Lady Susan Quotes

“My dear Alicia, of what a mistake were you guilty in marrying a man of his age! Just old enough to be formal, ungovernable, and to have the gout; too old to be agreeable, too young to die.”
― Jane Austen, Lady Susan

“Facts are such horrid things!”
― Jane Austen, Lady Susan

“I write only to bid you Farewell. The spell is removed; I see you as you are.”
― Jane Austen, Lady Susan

“There is exquisite pleasure in subduing an insolent spirit, in making a person pre-determined to dislike, acknowledge one's superiority.”
― Jane Austen, Lady Susan

“I am tired of submitting my will to the caprices of others—of resigning my own judgement in deference to those to whom I owe no duty, and for whom I feel no respect.”
― Jane Austen, Lady Susan

“...where there is a disposition to dislike, a motive will never be wanting”
― Jane Austen, Lady Susan

“I shall ever despise the man who can be gratified by the passion which he never wished to inspire, nor solicited the avowal of.”
― Jane Austen, Lady Susan

“Where pride and stupidity unite there can be no dissimulation worthy notice,”
― Jane Austen, Lady Susan

“Consideration and Esteem surely follow command of Language as Admiration waits on Beauty”
― Jane Austen, Lady Susan

“But that woman is a fool indeed who, while insulted by accusation, can be worked on by compliments.”
― Jane Austen, Lady Susan

“There is something agreeable in feelings so easily worked on; not that I envy him their possession, nor would, for the world, have such myself; but they are very convenient when one wishes to influence the passions of another.”
― Jane Austen, Lady Susan

“...though I always imagined from her increasing friendship for us since her husband's death that we should, at some future period, be obliged to receive her.”
― Jane Austen, Lady Susan

“Upon the whole, I commend my own conduct in this affair extremely, and regard it as a very happy instance of circumspection and tenderness. Some mothers would have insisted on their daughter's accepting so good an offer on the first overture; but I could not reconcile it to myself to force Frederica into a marriage from which her heart revolted, and instead of adopting so harsh a measure merely propose to make it her own choice, by rendering her thoroughly uncomfortable till she does accept him--but enough of this tiresome girl.”
― Jane Austen, Lady Susan

“... whether I ought not to punish him by dismissing him at once after this reconciliation, or by marrying and teazing him for ever.”
― Jane Austen, Lady Susan

“does not confine herself to that sort of honest flirtation which satisfies most people, but aspires to the more delicious gratification of making a whole family miserable.”
― Jane Austen, Lady Susan

“How little the general report of any one ought to be credited, since no character, however upright, can escape the malevolence of slander.”
― Jane Austen, Lady Susan

“I congratulate you and Mr. Vernon on being about to receive into your family the most accomplished coquette in England.”
― Jane Austen, Lady Susan

“I have not yet tranquillised myself enough to see Frederica.”
― Jane Austen, Lady Susan

“only Miss Mainwaring; who, coming to town, and putting herself to an expense in clothes which impoverished her for two years, on purpose to secure him, was defrauded of her due by a woman ten years older than herself.”
― Jane Austen, Lady Susan

“Nessuna condotta, neppure la più corretta, può sfuggire alla malevolenza della calunnia.”
― Jane Austen, Lady Susan

“If I am vain of anything, it is of my eloquence.”
― Jane Austen, Lady Susan

“I was not without apprehensions for myself.”
― Jane Austen, Lady Susan

“...which duty and affection equally dictated.”
― Jane Austen, Lady Susan

“Mia carissima Amica,
mi rallegro con te per l'arrivo di Mr De Courcy
e ti consiglio senz'altro di sposarlo; è noto che i possedimenti di suo padre sono
considerevoli e, ne sono certa, inalienabili.
Sir Reginald è molto malato,
ed è probabile che non potrà ostacolarti a lungo.”
― Jane Austen, Lady Susan

“I am tired of submitting my will to the caprices of others; of resigning my own judgment in deference to those to whom I owe no duty, and for whom I feel no respect.”
― Jane Austen, Lady Susan

“Oh, how delightful it was to watch the variations of his countenance while I spoke! to see the struggle between returning tenderness and the remains of displeasure. There is something agreeable in feelings so easily worked on; not that I envy him their possession, nor would, for the world, have such myself; but they are very convenient when one wishes to influence the passions of another.”
― Jane Austen, Lady Susan

“when a person is always to deceive, it is impossible to be consistent.”
― Jane Austen, Lady Susan

“how little the general report of anyone ought to be credited; since no character, however upright, can escape the malevolence of slander.”
― Jane Austen, Lady Susan

“how little the ungenerous representations of anyone to the disadvantage of another will avail when opposed by the immediate influence of intellect and manner.”
― Jane Austen, Lady Susan

“I have made him sensible of my power, and can now enjoy the pleasure of triumphing over a mind prepared to dislike me, and prejudiced against all my past actions.”
― Jane Austen, Lady Susan