Austen Quote by Mark Twain
“Every time I read a Jane Austen novel, I feel like a bartender at the gates of heaven.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Literary Man”, 1885
Reading Austen feels like being a gatekeeper to a heavenly realm, observing human folly and grace.
In simple terms: Austen’s world feels like a heavenly bar.
Key Takeaway
Appreciate the blend of humor and insight in classic literature.
Themes
literature
humor
observation
Mood
amused
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- reading clubs
- literary analysis
- teaching
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
social critique
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the “gate” symbolize for you?
- How does humor affect your perception of humanity?
A Different Perspective
Austen’s satire can be biting.
![“It [the rocket] will free man from his remaining chains, the chains of gravity which still tie him to this planet. It will open to him the gates of heaven.” quote by Wernher Von Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/756/wernher-von-braun-11841_free-man_it-the-rocket-will-free-man-from-his-rem_1126909.jpg)
![“[Jane] Austen was not a novelist for nothing: she knew that our stories are what make us human, and that listening to someone else's stories -- entering into their feelings, validating their experiences -- is the highest way of acknowledging their humanity, the sweetest form of usefulness.” quote by William Deresiewicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2bb/william-deresiewicz-15471_austen_jane-austen-was-not-a-novelist-for-nothi_62623.jpg)
