Jane Austen's Letters Quotes

“I do not want people to be very agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them a great deal.”
― Jane Austen, Jane Austen's Letters

“To you I shall say, as I have often said before, Do not be in a hurry, the right man will come at last...”
― Jane Austen, Jane Austen's Letters

“I could not sit seriously down to write a serious Romance under any other motive than to save my life, & if it were indispensable for me to keep it up & never relax into laughing at myself or other people, I am sure I should be hung before I had finished the first chapter. No - I must keep my own style & go on in my own way; and though I may never succeed again in that, I am convinced that I should totally fail in any other.”
― Jane Austen, Jane Austen's Letters

“I will not say that your mulberry trees are dead; but I am afraid they're not alive. ”
― Jane Austen, Jane Austen's Letters

“How horrible it is to have so many people killed! And what a blessing that one cares for none of them! ”
― Jane Austen, Jane Austen's Letters

“Walter Scott has no business to write novels, especially good ones. — It is not fair. — He has fame and profit enough as a poet, and should not be taking the bread out of other people’s mouths. — I do not like him, and do not mean to like Waverley if I can help it — but fear I must.”
― Jane Austen, Jane Austen's Letters

“If I am a wild Beast I cannot help it. It is not my own fault.”
― Jane Austen, Jane Austen's Letters

“Here I am once more in this scene of dissipation and vice, and I begin already to find my morals corrupted."
-- Jane Austen's Letters August 1796”
― Jane Austen, Jane Austen's Letters

“What should I do with your strong, manly, spirited sketches, full of variety and glow? How could I possibly join them on to the little bit (two inches wide) of ivory on which I work with so fine a brush, as produces little effect after much labour?”
― Jane Austen, Jane Austen's Letters

“I cannot help thinking that it is more natural to have flowers grow out of the head than fruit.”
― Jane Austen, Jane Austen's Letters

“What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps one in a continual state of inelegance.”
― Jane Austen, Jane Austen's Letters

“I am not at all in a humour for writing; I must write on till I am.”
― Jane Austen, Jane Austen's Letters

“I gave 2s. 3d. a yard for my flannel, and I fancy it is not very good, but it is so disgraceful and contemptible an article in itself that its being comparatively good or bad is of little importance. I bought some Japan ink likewise, and next week shall begin my operations on my hat, on which you know my principal hopes of happiness depend.”
― Jane Austen, The Letters of Jane Austen

“Remember that it is a present. Do not refuse me. I am very rich.”
― Jane Austen, Jane Austen's Letters

“My black cap was openly admired by Mrs. Lefroy, and secretly I imagine by everbody else in the room...”
― Jane Austen, Jane Austen's Letters

“I admire the sagacity and taste of Charlotte Williams. Those large dark eyes always judge well. I will compliment her by naming a heroine after her.”
― Jane Austen, Jane Austen's Letters

“Now I must speak of him, and I like him very much . I am sure he is clever, and a man of taste. He got a volume of Milton last night, and spoke of it with warmth. He is quite an M.P., very smiling, with an exceeding good address and readines of language. I am rather in love with him. I dare say he is ambitious and insincere”
― Jane Austen, Jane Austen's Letters

“By the by, as I must leave off being young, I find many douceurs in being a sort of chaperon, for I am put on the sofa near the fire, and can drink as much wine as I like”
― Jane Austen, Jane Austen's Letters