Pride and Prejudice

by Jane Austen

When a woman has five grown-up daughters, she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty." "In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of."

"If my children are silly, I must hope to be always sensible of it."

It does not follow that a deep, intricate character is more or less estimable than such a one as yours."

Everything nourishes what is strong already.

The power of doing anything with quickness is always prized much by the possessor, and often without any attention to the imperfection of the performance.

To find a man agreeable whom one is determined to hate! Do not wish me such an evil."

every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of merit or sense.

I have never been much in love; for had I really experienced that pure and elevating passion, I should at present detest his very name, and wish him all manner of evil.

But vanity, not love, has been my folly.

she dreaded lest the partiality of the brother should have said too much in her favour; and, more than commonly anxious to please, she naturally suspected that every power of pleasing would fail her.

obstinacy is the real defect of his character, after all. He has been accused of many faults at different times, but this is the true one.

he wants nothing but a little more liveliness, and that, if he marry prudently, his wife may teach him.

in a cause of compassion and honour, he had been able to get the better of himself.

She was in no humour for conversation with anyone but himself; and to him she had hardly courage to speak.

I have been a selfish being all my life, in practice, though not in principle.