Happy Birthday to Jane Austen

On this day in 1775 our esteemed authoress was born. What better way to celebrate than to share some of our favorite quotes from her?

In one of Austen’s letters, she wrote:

I can just imagine her face, and maybe even the kind of day she was having when she wrote this. These words have always made her feel very human and friendly to me. ~ Maria Grace

This is one of my favorite Jane Austen quotes, from Chapter 16 in Northanger Abbey, where Catherine Morland is speaking to Henry Tilney. I love this verse because it reminds me of a dear friend who gets her words tangled up all the time and makes us laugh. I have often thought I would like to have it printed on a shirt for her. But since she likely has not read NA, she likely wouldn’t get it. Much like Catherine didn’t quite understand some of Henry’s conversation. ~ Kara Louise

“Poor woman, I shall support her as long as I can, because she is a Woman, & because I hate her husband.” 

When the Prince Regent, Jane’s most illustrious fan, and his wife, Caroline of Brunswick, were locked in a bitter marital dispute, Jane knew just which side she was on. ~ Catherine Curzon

“You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope … I have loved none but you.” – Persuasion.

This one is self-explanatory.
~ Jack Caldwell

Miss Austen’s response to the Royal Librarian’s suggestion that she choose another genre: “I am fully sensible that an Historical Romance, founded on the House of Saxe Cobourg might be much more to the purpose of Profit or Popularity, than such pictures of domestic Life in Country Villages as I deal in… 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.” ~ Colette Saucier

“For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbors, and laugh at them in our turn?” – Mr. Bennet, Pride and Prejudice.

If you take this advice to heart, then life will be a whole lot easier.  ~ Mary Lydon Simonsen

“Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery. I quit such odious subjects as soon as I can, impatient to restore everybody not greatly in fault themselves to tolerable comfort, and to have done with all the rest.” – Northanger Abbey. 

I claim this as my literary philosophy as well as my favorite Jane Austen quote. I’m interested in books that entertain, that make you feel good, that sweep you away to another world. Although I know that without conflict there is no story, I’m glad when it’s time to do away with the culprits and reunite friends and lovers for a happy ending! ~ Shannon Winslow

“If adventures will not befall a young lady in her own village, she must seek them out abroad.”  – Northanger Abbey 

I particularly like this quote together with this sketch of Jane Austen by James Stanier Clarke, the Prince Regent’s librarian. He invited her to the library at Carlton House, Prinny’s home, and that certainly counts as an adventure!  ~ Abigail Reynolds

“There is nothing like staying at home, for real comfort.”

Jane has so many awesome quotes, but right now I’m really feeling this one. Forget who says it (Mrs. Elton, UGH), it’s still so true and so me.  ~ Melanie Stanford 

“One cannot have too large a party.  A large party secures its own amusement.”

From her writings in Emma, Jane Austen made Mr. Weston one of the first champions of inclusivity in parties and in life!  ~ Amy D’Orazio

“I cannot make speeches, Emma.  If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more. But you know what I am. You hear nothing but truth from me.” 

I think this quote applies to most of Jane Austen’s heroes. Maybe all of them. It’s the anti-heroes that speak and speak and speak about the depth of their affection.  But Mr Knightley, Mr Darcy, Capt. Wentworth say it all in just a few heartfelt words. ~ Joana Starnes

“Seldom, very seldom, does complete truth belong to any human disclosure; seldom can it happen that something is not a little disguised, or a little mistaken.” – Emma

This insight is just one of many showing Jane Austen’s profound gift for understanding the complexities of human nature. I loved this quote so much, I’ve had it on every version of my website for over a decade! ~ Marilyn Brant

Some of my favorite quotes are the ones that give me a gasp and a giggle when I’m reading her letters. She had a crazy sense of humor and some of her observations were far from polite, but absolutely hilarious–especially when she wrote to her beloved Cassandra.  ~ L.L. Diamond

[in a letter to Cassandra] “I give you joy of our new nephew, and hope if he ever comes to be hanged it will not be till we are too old to care about it.” – letter of April 25, 1811

“On the contents of that letter depended all that the world could do for her.” – Persuasion 

This above reflection is Anne’s, when Wentworth gives her the letter. The letter itself is wonderful enough, but this quotation also strikes me powerfully. It seems dramatic, almost melodramatic, but it is literally true. Anne has few options in life. A satisfying professional career is not open to her; she will not marry without love and trust. She loves Wentworth, and on this one letter, her fate truly depends. It may tell her he loves her too; but if not, all hope is over, for she has made it clear she will never love another.  To me this is a complete stomach clenching cliffhanger moment!  – Diana Birchall 

Readers, do you have a favorite Jane Austen quote for her birthday?