Jane Austen Quotes

A hundred ways

"I suppose there may be a hundred different ways of being in love."

Emma, on thinking Mr. Elton far too gallant
Emma, volume 1, chapter 6

I'm taking the next week off to linger and gaze at the sea, glory in the ocean, and sit dangerously outdoors!  Happy Memorial Day to all my U.S. readers. Enjoy the wonderful long weekend!  The blog will be back on June 2. 

Oh, danger...

"It is never safe to sit out of doors, my dear."

Mr. Woodhouse, to Emma regarding her portrait of Harriet who is so dangerously sitting outdoors!
Emma, volume 1, chapter 6

A reputation for accomplishment

I'm stuck in Emma these days:

"She had always wanted to do everything, and had made more progress, both in drawing and music, than many might have done with so little labour as she would ever submit to.  She played and sang -- and drew in almost every style; but steadiness had always been wanting; and in nothing had she approached the degree of excellence which she would have been glad to command and ought not to have failed of.  She was not much deceived as to her own skill either as an artist or a musician, but she was not unwilling to have others deceived, or sorry to know her reputation for accomplishment often higher than it deserved."

Of Emma, as she begins Harriet's portrait
Emma, volume 1, chapter 6

Some doubt of a return

"I have no idea that she has yet ever seen a man she cared for.  It would not be a bad thing for her to be very much in love with a proper object.  I should like to see Emma in love, and in some doubt of a return; it would do her good."

Mr. Knightley
Emma, volume 1, chapter 5

No lasting blunder

Forgive my unexpected absence last week.  Too many doctor's appointments and not enough energy.  A dear friend of mine was married on Saturday.  Such a good day -- and the Funky Chicken always helps one feel better, no?

Happy Monday, dear readers.

"Where shall we see a better daughter or a kinder sister or a truer friend? . . . She will make no lasting blunder; where Emma errs once, she is in the right a hundred times."

Such words of praise for Emma from Mrs. Weston
Emma, volume 1, chapter 5

I only hope that none of my blunders will be lasting.

Loveliness itself

[Mrs. Weston]  "She is loveliness itself.  Mr. Knightley, is not she?"

"I have not a fault to find with her person," he replied.  "I think her all you describe.  I love to look at her; and I will add this praise, that I do not think her personally vain.  Considering how handsome she is, she appears to be little occupied with it; her vanity lies another way."

Mrs. Weston and Mr. Knightley on Emma's beauty and faults
Emma, volume 1, chapter 5

Emma's reading lists

I love this little bit:

"Emma has been meaning to read more ever since she was twelve years old.  I have seen a great many  lists of her drawing up at various times of books that she meant to read regularly through--and very good lists they were--very well chosen and very neatly arranged--sometimes alphabetically and sometimes by some other rule.  The list she drew up when only fourteen--I remember thinking it did her judgement so much credit that I preserved it some time; and I dare say she may have made out a very good list now.  But I have done with expecting any course of steady reading from Emma.  She will never submit to anything requiring industry and patience and a subjection of the fancy to the understanding."

Mr. Knightley discussing Emma's faults with Mrs. Weston, who will not admit them
Emma, volume 1, chapter 5

I think I have made various reading lists of my own over the years...

Mr. Martin

"I have no doubt that he will thrive and be a very rich man in time--and his being illiterate and coarse need not disturb us."

Emma's backhanded compliment of Robert Martin, the farmer Harriet adores
Emma, volume 1, chapter 4

Encouragement

"Encouragement should be given."

This is of Emma, and her perhaps unwise decision to encourage Harriet Smith into a different sphere of life.  But it's a good sentiment all the same, no?
Emma, volume 1, chapter 3

The charms of Miss Bates

Why is it everyone likes Miss Bates so much?

"Her daughter [Miss Bates] enjoyed a most uncommon degree of popularity for a woman neither young, handsome, rich, nor married. Miss Bates stood in the very worst predicament in the world for having much of the public favour; and she had no intellectual superiority to make atonement to herself or frighten those who might hate her into outward respect.  She had never boasted either beauty or cleverness.  Her youth had passed without distinction, and her middle of life was devoted to the care of a failing mother and the endeavor to make a small income go as far as possible.  And yet she was a happy woman, a woman whom no one named without goodwill.  It was her own universal goodwill and contented temper which worked such wonders.  She loved everybody, was interested in everybody's happiness, quick-sighted to everybody's merits; thought herself a most fortunate creature, and surrounded with blessings in such an excellent mother and so many good neighbors and friends and a home that wanted for nothing.  The simplicity and cheerfulness of her nature, her contented and grateful spirit, were a recommendation to everybody and a mine of felicity to herself."

Emma, volume 1, chapter 3