Top 100 Elizabeth Jane Quotes
#1. Sir Humphrey looked like a sleepy old hippo
and when he yawned in that big, big, hippopotamus way Charity couldn't help doing likewise.
Elizabeth Jane Howard
#2. Outwardly I am 83, but inwardly I am every age, with the emotions and experience of each period.
Elizabeth Jane Coatsworth
#3. There is something dangerous about mirrors ... What dynamite we handle when we lift a mirror or bend towards one! I seldom do.
Elizabeth Jane Coatsworth
#5. For a single girl in London, luck isn't always a glass slipper that fits. Sometimes luck is a splash of mud from a passing bus.
Elizabeth Jane Howard
#6. The celestial brightness of Pride and Prejudice is unequalled even in Jane Austen's other work; after a life of much disappointment and grief, in which some people would have seen nothing but tedium and emptiness, she stepped forth as an author, breathing gaiety and youth, robed in dazzling light.
Elizabeth Jenkins
#7. I do think it is the hardest thing in the world, that your estate should be entailed away from your own children; and I am sure, if I had been you, I should have tried long ago to do something or other about it. Jane and Elizabeth tried to explain to her the nature of an entail.
Jane Austen
#9. In his library he had been always sure of leisure and tranquility; and though prepared, as he told Elizabeth, to meet with folly and conceit in every other room in the house, he was used to be free from them there
Jane Austen
#12. Charity knew there was nothing more coarse and common than an afternoon in bed with a total stranger
but the lad installing the telephone had a grin that made her heart turn flips.
Elizabeth Jane Howard
#13. The darling wish of his sisters was then gratified; he bought an estate in a neighbouring county to Derbyshire, and Jane and Elizabeth, in addition to every other source of happiness, were within thirty miles of each other.
Jane Austen
#14. Charity liked brandy. She liked the way it burned her throat while soothing the ache in her heart.
Elizabeth Jane Howard
#15. What I like about limousines is they have tinted windows, so no-one can see if you're snogging in the back seat.
Elizabeth Jane Howard
#16. You shall not, for the sake of one individual, change the meaning of principle and integrity, nor endeavour to persuade yourself or me, that selfishness is prudence, and insensibility of danger security for happiness.
Jane Austen
#17. When Mr. Collins could be forgotten, there was really an air of great comfort throughout, and by Charlotte's evident enjoyment of it, Elizabeth supposed he must be often forgotten.
Jane Austen
#18. Sex on a rainy afternoon is like getting all the gloom and wetness to go away for a while. And afterwards you don't even notice if the rain's still falling.
Elizabeth Jane Howard
#19. Persuaded as Miss Bingley was that Darcy admired Elizabeth, this was not the best method of recommending herself; but angry people are not always wise;
Jane Austen
#20. She laughed at bad jokes, stayed out too late, and overslept too often. Charity Hill loved holidays and she hated budgets and the alarm clock.
Elizabeth Jane Howard
#21. Jane Austen, much in advance of her day, was a mistress of the use of the dialogue. She used it as dialogue should be used-to advance the story; not only to show the characters, but to advance.
Elizabeth Bowen
#22. She always said, 'When I'm home, I've got to get things done, even if there are visitors. Elizabeth knows how to relax in her own house.' And then she would shake her head, as if Elizabeth had remarkable powers.
Jane Smiley
#23. I'd like to think I'm Elizabeth, but deep down I think I'm the one whose name no one can remember. Not Lydia the slut or Mary the nerd or Jane the beauty or Elizabeth the opinionated. I'm the second-youngest. The forgotten one. - Francesca Spinelli
Melina Marchetta
#24. Instead of receiving any such letter of excuse from his friend, as Elizabeth half expected Mr. Bingley to do, he was able to bring Darcy with him to Longbourn before many days had passed after Lady Catherine's visit.
Jane Austen
#26. Things change when someone special comes into your life. Both sides have to give up things. The one thing you don't give up in a good relationship is you
whatever makes you most you. - Jim Olsten (Jane's Grandpa)
Elizabeth Chandler
#27. And then when you go away, you may leave one or two of my sisters behind you; and I dare say I shall get husbands for them before the winter is over.'
"I thank you for my share of the favour,' said Elizabeth, "But I do not particularly like your way of getting husbands.
Jane Austen
#28. Charity felt rather snoozy after the long sermon, and she was really very grateful when Reverend Meeps offered her a cup of tea. Church was not so bad when the minister remembered you were only human.
Elizabeth Jane Howard
#29. Well, my dear," said Mr. Bennet, when Elizabeth had read the note aloud, "if your daughter should have a dangerous fit of illness - if she should die, it would be a comfort to know that it was all in pursuit of Mr. Bingley, and under your orders.
Jane Austen
#30. What was she to think? Oh, teasing, teasing man! It would be so much easier if he could simply tell her what he meant by all his confusing actions. And so she had another shock: Jane Bennet was irritated with Mr. Bingley.
Elizabeth Adams
#31. I know Jane is dear to you," Bess said. "I also know that she's in danger. But Jane is one person, Edward. There are thousands of lives at stake. There's a kingdom on the edge of a knife. We must tread carefully.
Cynthia Hand
#32. During much of my life, I was anxious to be what someone else wanted me to be. Now I have given up that struggle. I am what I am.
Elizabeth Jane Coatsworth
#33. Elizabeth received them with all the forbearance of civility
Jane Austen
#34. A good mystery keeps you up on Saturday night. A bad mystery puts you to sleep on Sunday afternoon. Either way, you come out ahead.
Elizabeth Jane Howard
#35. And with regard to the resentment of his family, or the indignation of the world, if the former were excited by his marrying me, it would not give me one moment's concern
and the world in general would have too much sense to join in the scorn.
Jane Austen
#36. Elizabeth had never been more at a loss to make her feelings appear what they were not. It was necessary to laugh, when she would rather have cried.
Jane Austen
#37. Her daughters were eagerly called to partake of her joy. Jane resolutely kept her place at the table; but Elizabeth, to satisfy her mother, went to the window - she looked, - she saw Mr. Darcy with him, and sat down again by her sister.
Jane Austen
#38. I am determined that nothing but the deepest love could ever induce me into matrimony. [Elizabeth]
Jane Austen
#39. I've got lots of ambitions, but I only ever think of them when I'm lying around in my undies having a snooze.
Elizabeth Jane Howard
#40. Elizabeth found that nothing was beneath this great lady's attention, which could furnish her with an occasion of dictating to others.
Jane Austen
#41. Yes, you know enough of my frankness to believe me capable of that. After abusing you so abominably to your face, I could have no scruple in abusing you to all your relations.
-Elizabeth Bennet
Jane Austen
#42. I'm not lazy. I'm just really gifted, only instead of being good at music or math I'm good at sleeping late.
Elizabeth Jane Howard
#43. You are mistaken, Mr. Darcy, if you suppose that the mode of your declaration affected me in any other way, than as it spared the concern which I might have felt in refusing you, had you behaved in a more gentlemanlike manner. (Elizabeth Bennett)
Jane Austen
#44. I use Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream, £12, on my lips, and my arms if they're sunburned. I'm past caring that sunbathing is dangerous.
Jane Birkin
#46. Why do these big old country houses always have family portraits in the dining room? Do you really want to eat with someone's gloomy great-grandfather looking down on you?
Elizabeth Jane Howard
#49. I wonder who first discovered the efficacy of poetry in driving away love!- Elizabeth Bennet
Jane Austen
#50. It's all right, darling. I can't stand people who are bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at seven in the morning. Give me a girl who only gets going after ten!
Elizabeth Jane Howard
#51. Mrs Downs, a large sad lady who described herself, to Rupert's delight, as bulky but fragile, now came four mornings a week to clean the house. She was one of those people who habitually looked on the black side of everything with a cheerfulness that bordered upon the macabre.
Elizabeth Jane Howard
#52. Wandering down the street in an aimless sort of way, cold too, in a dress from last night that made young men stop and stare in the street, Charity Hill found herself hating the single life for the very first time.
Elizabeth Jane Howard
#53. Their indifference towards Jane when not immediately before them restored Elizabeth to the enjoyment of all her former dislike.
Jane Austen
#54. Though Darcy could never receive him at Pemberley, yet, for Elizabeth's sake, he assisted him further in his profession.
Jane Austen
#55. Really, Mr. Collins,' cried Elizabeth with some warmth, 'you puzzle me exceedingly. If what I have hitherto said can appear to you in the form of encouragement, I know not how to express my refusal in such a way as to convince you of its being one.
Jane Austen
#56. The craze of genealogy is connected with the epidemic for divorce. If we can't figure out who our living relatives are, then maybe we'll have more luck with the dead ones.
Elizabeth Jane Howard
#57. It was gratitude; gratitude, not merely for having once loved her, but for loving her still well enough to forgive all the petulance and acrimony of her manner in rejecting him, and all the unjust accusations accompanying her rejection.
Jane Austen
#60. Lady Catherine seemed quite astonished at not receiving a direct answer; and Elizabeth suspected herself to be the first creature who had ever dared to trifle with so much dignified impertinence.
Jane Austen
#61. As it happened that Elizabeth had much rather not, she endeavoured in her answer to put an end to every entreaty and expectation of the kind. Such relief, however, as it was in her power to afford,
Jane Austen
#62. They parted at last with mutual civility, and possibly a mutual desire of never meeting again.
Jane Austen
#63. Sex is like petrol. It's a galvaniser, a wonderful fuel for starting a relationship.
Elizabeth Jane Howard
#64. I am no longer surprised at your knowing only six accomplished women. I rather wonder now at your knowing any.
Jane Austen
#65. Sit down and tell me everything, child. Hurt feelings and hopeless despair are no match for tea and biscuits.
Elizabeth Jane Howard
#66. Darcy had never been so bewitched by any woman as he was by her [Elizabeth].
Jane Austen
#68. Matt is a tortured soul,' Amanda insisted. 'He's Heathcliff and you're Cathy. He's Rochester and you're Jane Eyre. He's-'
'Darcy and I'm Elizabeth. I get it. And you're wrong.
Robin Brande
#69. I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine.
Jane Austen
#70. Elizabeth Bennet: I'm very fond of walking. Mr. Darcy: Yes... yes I know. (from Pride & Prejudice, the movie)
Jane Austen
#71. People don't feel so quarrelsome in warm weather. They get crotchety in the fall and begin to go to law about things after the first hard frosts.
Elizabeth Jane Coatsworth
#72. Even Elizabeth began to fear - not that Bingley was indifferent - but that his sisters would be successful in keeping him away. Unwilling as she was to admit an idea so destructive
Jane Austen
#73. Had Elizabeth's opinion been all drawn from her own family, she could not have formed a very pleasing picture of conjugal felicity or domestic comfort.
Jane Austen
#78. When you fall asleep after a big lunch you're really just saving up energy to work off all the calories later on.
Elizabeth Jane Howard
#81. An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents. Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do.
Jane Austen
#82. The sky's inclemency stirs up the angry winds;
the watery clouds are soaking with ceaseless rain.
The turbulent Vltava, swollen with rainy waves,
Bursting, impetuous, breaks through its river banks.
Elizabeth Jane Weston
#83. Charity knew she had to begin looking for a job soon. Definitely tomorrow, or the next day. Or perhaps the day after that. Charity didn't believe in procrastination. She just needed to plan her strategy. She was sound asleep on the sofa when Lady Margaret got back from London.
Elizabeth Jane Howard
#85. No wonder the tulip is the patron flower of Holland. Looking at it one almost smells fresh paint laid on in generous brilliance: doors, blinds, whole houses, canal boats, pails, farm wagons - all painted in greens, blues, reds, pinks, yellows.
Elizabeth Jane Coatsworth
#86. She was convinced that she could have been happy with him, when it was no longer likely they should meet.
Jane Austen
#87. Mr. Darcy began to feel the danger of paying Elizabeth too much attention.
Jane Austen
#88. Charity could chatter dorm-room Marxist theory with the best of them, but a single look from cool, silver-haired Lady Beddington was enough to make her tremble from head to toe.
Elizabeth Jane Howard
#89. Love is neither a conditional business nor an ever-fixed mark arrangement. People always know somewhere inside them if they are not loved. No gestures, talk, conciliation, pronouncements can prevail over that deep instinctual knowledge.
Elizabeth Jane Howard
#90. Elizabeth was excessively disappointed ... but it was her business to be satisfied - and certainly her temper to be happy; and all was soon right again.
Jane Austen
#91. Only a great genius like the Victorian novelist Elizabeth Gaskell can be mother, wife and novelist without solitude. I couldn't write until my youngest child went to school, and then I began - the first morning - and I've never stopped.
Jane Gardam
#92. There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me.
Jane Austen
#93. Have you any other objection than your belief of my indifference?
- Elizabeth Bennet
Jane Austen
#94. Walking across the moors made me feel as if I'd stepped primly out of a Jane Austen book or an Impressionist painting. But I bet even Elizabeth Bennet had never punted a rabbit before, and my current count was 137.
Delilah S. Dawson
#96. Jane and Elizabeth tried to explain that all five of them were capable of fending for themselves; that they could make tolerable fortunes as bodyguards, assassins, or mercenaries if need be.
Seth Grahame-Smith
#97. In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you." Elizabeth's astonishment was beyond expression.
Jane Austen
#98. I'm not particularly keen on pity. Pity takes something away from grief. People think they're sharing it, but really they're just taking some. I prefer to keep my grief intact.
Elizabeth Jane Howard
#99. You can't run from feelings, Charity. You have to face them. Otherwise your future will look just like your past.
Elizabeth Jane Howard
