Books Quote by Jane Austen
““I am no novel-reader—I seldom look into novels—Do not imagine that I often read novels—It is really very well for a novel.” Such is the common cant. “And what are you reading, Miss—?” “Oh! It is only a novel!” replies the young lady, while she lays down her book with affected indifference, or momentary shame. “It is only Cecilia, or Camilla, or Belinda”; or, in short, only some work in which the greatest powers of the mind are displayed, in which the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit and humour, are conveyed to the world in the best-chosen language.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Pride and Prejudice, 1813
A young woman pretends indifference to reading novels while actually valuing their insight into human nature and wit.
In simple terms: She pretends not to read novels but actually appreciates them.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the depth behind seemingly light reading.
Themes
literature
social critique
gender roles
Mood
playful
reflective
Type
observational
literary
When to use this quote
- social gatherings
- personal study
- literary salons
Key Concepts
novel analysis
cultural commentary
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you ever downplay your interests to fit social expectations?
- How can humor reveal deeper truths?
A Different Perspective
The quote may overstate the intellectual value of novels compared to other works.
![“Everybody is taken in at some period or another. [...] In marriage especially. [...] There is not one in a hundred of either sex, who is not taken in when they marry. Look where I will, I see that it is so; and I feel that it must be so, when I consider that it is, of all transactions, the one in…” quote by Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/37a/jane-austen-39_marriage_everybody-is-taken-in-at-some-period-or_7175.jpg)
