Jane Austen

I wish, with all my heart, that I was well settled at home, and I do not care how soon I am; but I have no hope of it.

Oh! do not attack me with your fine words. I will not be talked out of my senses.

I have no patience with people who take themselves seriously. It is a sign of a small mind.

Compliments are the most dangerous things in the world.

I could not sit seriously down to write a serious novel without making fun of it and of myself.

To be sure, you are sensible, and I know nobody who does not think you a sensible woman; but I do not think you are a sensible woman to be always in the right.

I have a right to be in a bad humour sometimes.

There are such beings in the world, of so much refinement as to be always miserable.

I am not at all in a humour for writing, I am growing idle and want some help. I have not written a word for a fortnight, and I really think I shall give it up altogether.

I have been at great pains to avoid the sort of female who is always in love with a man, and always talking of him, and always wishing to marry him.

I am not a good hand at describing a place. I am all for character and conversation.

I hate to hear you talk about all women as if they were fine ladies instead of rational creatures. None of us want to be in calm waters all our lives.

My dearest Cassandra, I have just received your letter, and am sorry to find that you have so little to say for yourself.

I am going to Bath with the Gardiners. I mean to be as happy as possible, and not to think of any thing till I get there.

I am tired of great men and great women, who are always good, and always doing good, and always saying good things.

I wish, as well as every body else, to be perfectly happy; but, like every body else, it must be in my own way.

I have been so much engaged on other things that I have not been able to do any thing to my novel for a long time.

I have not the least intention of marrying at present, nor have I ever had. I am much too happy as I am.

I am not at all ashamed of being a little romantic myself.

I am not fond of anything that is not perfectly good; and therefore I do not like my own writing, for I think it is not perfectly good.