What kind of writer would Jane Austen be without a sharp mind and an equally sharp tongue? Her personal quotes really unveil something about the character of Ms. Austen, a character that sometimes comes out in her lead characters. She certainly maintained a unique, almost stubborn, view of the world around her and had made up her mind about a great many things.

Below, you will find a selection of quotes from Jane Austen works and from Jane Austen herself.

• Quotes from Emma

• Quotes from Sense and Sensibility

• Quotes from Mansfield Park

• Quotes from Northanger Abbey

• Quotes from Pride and Prejudice

• Quotes from Persuasion

Various Other Quotes from Jane Austen herself:

“Wisdom is better than wit, and in the long run will certainly have the laugh on her side.”

“Where so many hours have been spent in convincing myself that I am right, is there not some reason to fear I may be wrong?”

"To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment."

"Surprises are foolish things. The pleasure is not enhanced, and the inconvenience is often considerable."

"Single women have a dreadful propensity for being poor. Which is one very strong argument in favor of matrimony."

"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."

"One man's style must not be the rule of another's."

"One cannot be always laughing at a man without now and then stumbling on something witty."

"Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery."

"It will, I believe, be everywhere found, that as the clergy are, or are not what they ought to be, so are the rest of the nation."

"I do not want people to be very agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them a great deal."

"I do not want people to be agreeable, as it saves me that trouble of liking them."

"I cannot speak well enough to be unintelligible."

"Every man is surrounded by a neighborhood of voluntary spies."

"Business, you know, may bring you money, but friendship hardly ever does."

"An artist cannot do anything slovenly."

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

"A person who can write a long letter with ease, cannot write ill."

"A mind lively and at ease, can do with seeing nothing, and can see nothing that does not answer."

The Books of Jane Austen: