I have recently overcome my prejudice against classical literature, finished reading Pride and Prejudice - and actually enjoyed it. While I am aware it has often been called a timeless classic, I didn't expect to find myself identifying so closely with the protagonist of the story and easily drawing many comparisons between the book's characters and people in my life.
Like every good story, Pride and Prejudice drew me into its world. I laughed, got upset, nodded along at every quick-witted verbal jab, rolled my eyes at every silly remark or snooty reply, and felt the wounded pride, incredulous surprise, curious impatience and joyful bliss of the characters as I read through the book.
By the time I finished the book, it actually felt like I had lost a friend - something I have only ever felt with a select number of books in my life.
So, as a toast to newly-acquired fellow Janites everywhere, and to give a glimpse of the author's verbal dexterity and sharp analysis of social mores (which are still as relevant to society today as ever) to the uninitiated, here are fifteen of my favourite quotes from Jane Austen. Pour yourself a cup of tea, and savour!
#1
"Mr. Bennet, how can you abuse your own children in such a way? You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion for my poor nerves."
"You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these last twenty years at least." (Exchange between Mr. and Mrs. Bennett)
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#2
He was directly invited to join their party, but he declined it, observing that he could imagine but two motives for their choosing to walk up and down the room together, with either of which motives his joining them would interfere. "What could he mean? She was dying to know what could be his meaning?"—and asked Elizabeth whether she could at all understand him?
"Not at all," was her answer; "but depend upon it, he means to be severe on us, and our surest way of disappointing him will be to ask nothing about it."
Miss Bingley, however, was incapable of disappointing Mr. Darcy in anything, and persevered therefore in requiring an explanation of his two motives.
"I have not the smallest objection to explaining them," said he, as soon as she allowed him to speak. "You either choose this method of passing the evening because you are in each other's confidence, and have secret affairs to discuss, or because you are conscious that your figures appear to the greatest advantage in walking; if the first, I would be completely in your way, and if the second, I can admire you much better as I sit by the fire."
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#3
They are young in the ways of the world, and not yet open to the mortifying conviction that handsome young men must have something to live on as well as the plain.
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#4
"I certainly have not the talent which some people possess," said Darcy, "of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I cannot catch their tone of conversation, or appear interested in their concerns, as I often see done."
"My fingers," said Elizabeth, "do not move over this instrument in the masterly manner which I see so many women's do. They have not the same force or rapidity, and do not produce the same expression. But then I have always supposed it to be my own fault—because I will not take the trouble of practising. It is not that I do not believe my fingers as capable as any other woman's of superior execution."
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#5
"...he wants nothing but a little more liveliness, and that, if he marry prudently, his wife may teach him. I thought him very sly;—he hardly ever mentioned your name. But slyness seems the fashion." (Mrs. Gardiner to her niece, Elizabeth)
