Jane Austen Quotes

A truth universally acknowledged

Here's the very first (and often quoted) first line of P&P -- the one this blog began with more than a year ago.

"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."

Pride & Prejudice, Volume 1, Chapter 1

Indeed!  Alas, dear Colin already has a wife...

Image from the lovely Jane Austen Today blog, home of all things related to Austen-mania.  Vote in their polls about the PBS flicks, read reviews, and learn more about all the new films and the actors playing our favorite characters.

Here's the very first (and often quoted) first line of P&P -- the one this blog began with more than a year ago.

"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."

Pride & Prejudice, Volume 1, Chapter 1

Indeed!  Alas, dear Colin already has a wife...

Image from the lovely Jane Austen Today blog, home of all things related to Austen-mania.  Vote in their polls about the PBS flicks, read reviews, and learn more about all the new films and the actors playing our favorite characters.

Oh, to be respectable

"The Rich are always respectable."

letter to Cassandra
June 22, 1808 [53]

Jane was joking (as always), because she had just received a gift of money from her brother Edward's adoptive mother (it's complicated...), Mrs. Knight.

Vulgar economy

"The Orange Wine will want our Care soon.--But in the meantime for Elegance & Ease & Luxury . . . I shall eat Ice & drink French wine, & be above Vulgar Economy."

letter to Cassandra
July 1, 1808 [55]

Jane was writing from Godmersham (pic above), her brother Edward's home, which was certainly above Vulgar Economy -- as Jane wrote, everyone was rich in Kent, it was the only place for happiness.  (Read about my adventure getting to Godmersham here.)

Wishing that I could ignore the vulgar economies of my own budget as well!

What indeed?

“’What have wealth or grandeur to do with happiness?’” [Marianne]

‘Grandeur has but little,’ said Elinor, ‘but wealth has much to do with it.’

‘Elinor, for shame!’ said Marianne; ‘money can only give happiness where there is nothing else to give it.  Beyond a competence, it can afford no real satisfaction as far as mere self is concerned.’

‘Perhaps,’ said Elinor, smiling, ‘we may come to the same point.  Your competence and my wealth are very much alike, I dare say; and without them, as the world goes now, we shall both agree that every kind of external comfort must be wanting.  Your ideas are only more noble than mine.  Come, what is your competence?’

‘About eighteen hundred or two thousand a year; not more than that.’

Elinor laughed. ‘Two thousand a year!  One is my wealth!  I guessed how it would end.’”

Elinor & Marianne discussing with Edward the need of money for happiness
Sense & Sensibility, volume 1, chapter 17 [emphasis mine]