Should Quotes by Jane Austen

If I had ever learnt, I should have been a great proficient.

— Jane Austen

“I should not mind anything at all.”

— Jane Austen

I should infinitely prefer a book...

— Jane Austen

A woman, especially, if she have the misfortune of knowing anything, should conceal it as well as she can.

— Jane Austen

Oh! I am delighted with the book! I should like to spend my whole life in reading it.

— Jane Austen

She was convinced that she could have been happy with him, when it was no longer likely they should meet.

— Jane Austen

…one half of her should not be always so much wiser than the other half…

— Jane Austen

I do not like to have people throw themselves away; but everybody should marry as soon as they can do it to…

— Jane Austen

It is always incomprehensible to a man that a woman should ever refuse an offer of marriage.

— Jane Austen

I certainly will not persuade myself to feel more than I do. I am quite enough in love. I should be sorry…

— Jane Austen

Every impulse of feeling should be guided by reason; and, in my opinion, exertion should always be in proportion to what is…

— Jane Austen

I certainly must,' said she. 'This sensation of listlessness, weariness, stupidity, this disinclination to sit down and employ myself, this feeling of…

— Jane Austen

if a woman doubts as to whether she should accept a man or not, she certainly ought to refuse him. If she…

— Jane Austen

No young lady can be justified in falling in love before the gentleman's love is declared, it must be very improper that…

— Jane Austen

I would have everybody marry if they can do it properly: I do not like to have people throw themselves away; but…

— Jane Austen

Far be it from me, my dear sister, to depreciate such pleasures. They would doubtless be congenial with the generality of female…

— Jane Austen

Well, my dear," said Mr. Bennet, when Elizabeth had read the note aloud, "if your daughter should have a dangerous fit of…

— Jane Austen

That is what I like; that is what a young man ought to be. Whatever be his pursuits, his eagerness in them…

— Jane Austen

It is very often nothing but our own vanity that deceives us. Women fancy admiration means more than it does. And men…

— Jane Austen

I read it [history] a little as a duty, but it tells me nothing that does not either vex or weary me.…

— Jane Austen

You either choose this method of passing the evening because you are in each other's confidence, and have secret affairs to discuss,…

— Jane Austen

Dear Diary, Today I tried not to think about Mr. Knightly. I tried not to think about him when I discussed the…

— Jane Austen

I am now convinced that I have never been much in love; for had I really experienced that pure and elevating passion,…

— Jane Austen

I never wish to offend, but I am so foolishly shy, that I often seem negligent, when I am only kept back…

— Jane Austen

She was humbled, she was grieved; she repented, though she hardly knew of what. She became jealous of his esteem, when she…

— Jane Austen

I am excessively fond of a cottage; there is always so much comfort, so much elegance about them. And I protest, if…

— Jane Austen

She would have liked to know how he felt as to a meeting. Perhaps indifferent, if indifference could exist under such circumstances.…

— Jane Austen

At my time of life opinions are tolerably fixed. It is not likely that I should now see or hear anything to…

— Jane Austen

It has sunk him, I cannot say how much it has sunk him in my opinion. So unlike what a man should…

— Jane Austen

Lady Sondes' match surprises, but does not offend me; had her first marriage been of affection, or had their been a grown-updaughter,…

— Jane Austen

It was a gloomy prospect, and all that she could do was to throw a mist over it, and hope when the…

— Jane Austen

Young ladies should take care of themselves. Young ladies are delicate plants. They should take care of their health and their complexion.…

— Jane Austen

Walter Scott has no business to write novels, especially good ones. He has fame and profit enough as a poet, and should…

— Jane Austen

I lay it down as a general rule, Harriet, that if a woman doubts as to whether she should accept a man…

— Jane Austen

She was heartily ashamed of her ignorance - a misplaced shame. Where people wish to attach, they should always be ignorant. To…

— Jane Austen

I particularly recollect your saying one night, after they had been dining at Netherfield, 'SHE a beauty!--I should as soon call her…

— Jane Austen

There are such beings in the world -- perhaps one in a thousand -- as the creature you and I should think…

— Jane Austen

I could not sit seriously down to write a serious Romance under any other motive than to save my life, & if…

— Jane Austen

The evergreen! How beautiful, how welcome, how wonderful the evergreen! When one thinks of it, how astonishing a variety of nature! In…

— Jane Austen

There is no reason in the world why you should not be important where you are known. You have good sense, and…

— Jane Austen