How many of these quotes do you recognize from Jane Austen’s classic novel, Pride and Prejudice? Did your favorite quote make the list?
Like many other people in the world, I consider Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice
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This classic novel is filled with interesting characters and witty banter. Despite the fact that it was written over 200 years ago, people (including myself) still find it relatable. Afterall…
I can relate to all of these characters and their predicaments, and that is why I still giggle and swoon and sigh every time I read Pride and Prejudice.
Take a moment to relive a few favorite moments from the story as I share 15 of my favorite Pride and Prejudice Quotes.
1 | “I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration for these twenty years at least.” – Mr. Bennet
1 | “I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration for these twenty years at least.” – Mr. Bennet
Mr. Bennet begins to show his wit (and his aggravation with his wife) within the first few pages of Pride and Prejudice. Mrs. Bennet hounds him to visit a new neighbor, and he is obviously disinclined to do so. She accuses him of vexing her and having no compassion on her poor nerves. And then, Mr. Bennet responds with this witty reply.
“I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration for these twenty years at least.”
LOL! It’s no wonder that Mr. Bennet is one of my favorite characters. His responses are always clever, sometimes sarcastic and so entertaining.
2 | “Not at all. They were brightened by the exercise.” – Mr. Darcy
Having once remarked to his friends that Elizabeth Bennet has “fine eyes”, the jealous Caroline Bingley repeatedly teases Darcy about it.
When Elizabeth walks three miles above her ankles in dirt to get to Netherfield in order to check on the health of her sister, Miss Caroline Bingley can’t refrain from making cutting remarks about Elizabeth’s disheveled appearance.
Miss Bingley ends the tirade of insults by stating “I am afraid, Mr. Darcy, that this adventure has rather affected your admiration of her fine eyes.”
I am afraid, Miss Bingley, that you were rather disappointed with Darcy’s response to your diatribe.
Darcy’s response? “Not at all. They were brightened by the exercise.”
3 | “… if the first, I should be completely in your way; – and if the second, I can admire you much better as I sit by the fire.” – Mr. Darcy
When Elizabeth agrees to “take a turn about the room” with Caroline Bingley, Darcy is invited to join them. He declines and states that he does not want to interfere with their motives for walking about the room together.
As he had hoped, Caroline takes the bait and asks what motives he supposes they might have.
He responds with “You either chuse 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 should be completely in your way; – and if the second, I can admire you much better as I sit by the fire.”
Upon reading this comment, I rub my hands together in anticipation and delight. The flirtation has begun!!!
4 | “She is a very headstrong foolish girl, and does not know her own interest; but I will make her know it.” – Mrs. Bennet
The clever and confident protagonist of the story is called headstrong at least twice throughout the novel, and modern day women love that… as evidenced by sales of merchandise like this shirt
Mrs. Bennet is the first one to accuse her of being headstrong. Mr. Collins has just proposed marriage to Elizabeth, and to her mother’s chagrin, Elizabeth declined. Mrs. Bennet immediately demands her husband to make Elizabeth marry.
SPOILER: Readers are delighted with what Mr. Bennet says to his headstrong (but not foolish) daughter regarding this matter. See the next quote for his response.
Keep reading to learn about another incident when Elizabeth is called headstrong (quote #12).
5 | “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.” – Mr. Bennet
Back to Elizabeth’s refusal of Mr. Collins’ hand in marriage…
Mr. Bennet: I understand that Mr. Collins has made you an offer of marriage… and this offer of marriage you have refused?
The Ever-Headstrong Elizabeth: I have, Sir.
Mr. Bennet: Very well. We now come to the point. Your mother insists upon your accepting it. Is not it so, Mrs. Bennet?
Mrs. Bennet: Yes, or I will never see her again.
Mr. Bennet: 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.
Way to go, Mr. Bennet!
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6 | “I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collin’s character, connections, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair, as most people can boast on entering the marriage state.” – Charlotte Lucas
Ever a study of practicality, this quote demonstrates Charlotte’s nature well.
At the age of 27, she is headed towards spinsterhood. So when Mr. Collins proposes marriage to her after being refused by Elizabeth, Charlotte knows that it is unlikely for other marriage opportunities to arise and accepts his proposal.
When Elizabeth protests in disbelief to Charlotte over the engagement. The sensible Charlotte says, “I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins’ character, connections, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair, as most people can boast on entering the marriage state.”
While Charlotte is practical, she is also quite clever. Later in the novel, I giggle when I hear the various ways that she maintains a little peace and quiet from the verbal ramblings of her new husband. For instance, Charlotte encourages him to work in the garden as much as possible. You know, for the benefit of his health.
7 | “With three younger sisters grown up, your Ladyship can hardly expect me to own it.” – Elizabeth Bennet
Lady Catherine de Bourgh is used to getting her own way. She says what she wants, and others acquiesce because of her noble status and wealth. Her interactions quickly irritate readers, and that’s why it is soooo satisfying when Elizabeth refuses to concede to Lady Catherine’s opinions.
My favorite example of this is when her Ladyship asks Elizabeth’s age after expressing shock that all five Bennet sisters are out at once.
Lady Catherine: All! – What, all five out at once? Very odd! – And you only the second. – The younger ones out before the elder are married! – Your younger sisters must be very young?
Elizabeth: Yes, my youngest is not sixteen. Perhaps she is full young to be much in company. But really, Ma’am, I think it would be very hard upon younger sisters, that they should not have their share of society and amusement because the elder may not have the means or inclination to marry early. – The last born has a good right to the pleasures of youth, as the first. And to be kept back on such a motive! – I think it would not be very likely to promote sisterly affection or delicacy of mind.
Lady Catherine: Upon my word, you give your opinion very decidedly for so young a person. – Pray, what is your age?
Elizabeth: With three younger sisters grown up, your Ladyship can hardly expect me to own it.
Point to Elizabeth on that one! I can’t stop giggling over the astonishment and outrage Lady Catherine goes on to express when she is denied a direct answer to her question.
8 | “In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” – Mr. Darcy
And, then, there is Mr. Darcy’s proposal quote. I had to include this as a favorite Pride and Prejudice quote because – SWOON! – who doesn’t want to be ardently admired and loved.
This quote came from Darcy’s first marriage proposal extended to Elizabeth. The marriage proposal that she refused. I only wish he had expressed something so elegant and quotable for his second (and accepted) marriage proposal to her.
With the second proposal, he simply said, “My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever.” The book went on to share the general gist of their conversation but did not share any more specific quotes. Boo!
At least we have this one beautiful expression of love from his first proposal… even if the rest of that particular proposal was completely botched when he mentioned the inferiority of her birth and how embarrassing her relatives are. Yikes! You really dropped the ball on that first proposal, Darcy!
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9 | “Lydia will never be easy till she has exposed herself in some public place or another…” – Mr. Bennet
Elizabeth adamantly begs her father not to allow Lydia to go to Brighton. In response, he says, “Lydia will never be easy till she has exposed herself in some public place or another, and we can never expect her to do it with so little expense or inconvenience to her family as under the present circumstances.”
If Mr. Bennet had just heeded Elizabeth’s advice, it would have saved the entire family from A LOT of expense and inconvenience and embarrassment.
You really underestimated the damage Lydia was capable of, Mr. Bennet, when you allowed her to follow the regiments to Brighton with her friends, the Forsters. Oh my! How you underestimated your youngest child!
10 | “Married women have never much time for writing. My sisters may write to me. They will have nothing else to do.” – Lydia
Even after more than 15 reads, I am still surprised by Lydia’s brazenness and utter disregard for her own poor behavior. But, out of all the Lydia quotes, this is the one that really makes my eyes roll.
After being generously welcomed back into her family after her shameful elopement/shotgun wedding, Lydia prances around expecting admiration for her marriage from her still single sisters.
As Lydia takes her leave with her new husband, Mrs. Bennet says, “Write to me very often, my dear.”
To which Lydia replies, “As often as I can. But you know married women have never much time for writing. My sisters may write to me. They will have nothing else to do.”
Gah! How do Jane and Elizabeth and the others manage to keep their composure?!?
11 | “I have great pleasure in thinking you will be so happily settled. I have not a doubt of your doing very well together. Your tempers are by no means unlike. You are each of you so complying, that nothing will ever be resolved on; so easy, that every servant will cheat you; and so generous, that you will always exceed your income.” – Mr. Bennet
When the sweet-natured Jane becomes engaged to the likeable and generous Mr. Bingley, Mr. Bennet is thrilled with his eldest daughter’s engagement… although, he has a funny way of wording things.
This quote is amusing because, like most funny jokes, it has a hint of truth to it. Both, Jane and Bingley, are generous to a fault. They tend to think the best of everyone – whether that person is deserving of such kind regards or not.
Thus, it is quite possible that all of Mr. Bennet’s observations may come true at some point or another.
12 | “You can now have nothing farther to say. You have insulted me, in every possible method. I must beg to return to the house.” – Elizabeth Bennet
One of my absolute favorite scenes from Pride and Prejudice is when Lady Catherine unexpectedly visits Elizabeth at her Longbourn home. Is there anything more funny than a conceited woman of nobility behaving badly?
Her ladyship has heard rumors of an engagement between nephew (Mr. Darcy) and Elizabeth. At this point in the story, there is no truth to this rumor. Elizabeth had already refused his proposal (as mentioned when discussing quote #8). While Elizabeth does admit that she is not engaged, she refuses to promise to never enter an engagement with Darcy.
Lady Catherine is outraged and deluges Elizabeth with all sorts of insults including calling Elizabeth an “Obstinate, headstrong girl!” (There’s that headstrong word again. See quote #4.)
Besides calling names and a host of other insults, her Ladyship threatens Elizabeth with censure and ostracism.
Elizabeth has smart, witty comebacks for every insult and threat thrown her way. She wins this verbal match, and without regard of Lady Catherine’s status of superiority, Elizabeth boldly dismisses her Ladyship.
“You can now have nothing farther to say. You have insulted me, in every possible method. I must beg to return to the house.”
Score one for the headstrong underdog!!
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13 | “My aunt’s intelligence had given me hope, and I was determined at once to know every thing.” – Mr Darcy
As news of Lady Catherine’s confrontation reaches Darcy, he starts to wonder if Elizabeth had a change of heart.
In trying to separate the couple (who was not together as of yet), Lady Catherine has given them reason to hope for a union!
This irony is not missed by the newly-engaged couple. Darcy comments on it, and Elizabeth Bennet responds in jest by saying, “Lady Catherine has been of infinite use, which ought to make her happy, for she loves to be of use.”
Oh, the irony! I can’t stop laughing over this turn of events!
14 | “If any young men come for Mary or Kitty, send them in, for I am quite at my leisure.” – Mr. Bennet
This is one of my favorite Mr. Bennet quotes! After seeing his two eldest daughters happily engaged to good men of great wealth, it is no wonder that Mr. Bennet is in such a good mood. I can’t help but smile at his jaunty decree. “If any young men come for Mary or Kitty, send them in, for I am quite at my leisure.”
Afterall, it is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
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15 | “I am happier even than Jane; she only smiles, I laugh.” – Lizzy (in a letter to her Aunt Gardiner)
In a letter to her Aunt Gardiner, Elizabeth writes of her engagement. “I am happier even than Jane; she only smiles, I laugh.”
And, this quote makes my heart so happy!
What Are Your Favorite Pride and Prejudice Quotes?
Do you love Pride and Prejudice, too?
Tell me about your favorite scenes and quotes in the comments section below.
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I love Jane Austen! I was late to the game, though. I didn’t read Austen until college when I read Persuasion for my Brit. Lit. I class. Then I was hooked. Great post!
I was late to the game as well. Pride and Prejudice was the first Jane Austen book I ever read, and I didn’t read that until shortly after college. But once I was introduced to the magic of Jane Austen’s writing, I found I couldn’t stop reading her books. Sooooo good!
Here is my favorite quote. It always just makes my heart swell when she knows how happy she could be.
“Completely and perfectly and incandescently happy.”
-it’s brilliant
Oh, I had forgotten about that one when I made this list! That’s a good one.
I like the one where Mr. Bennet said he must reply to a letter he received a fortnight before, as it might be urgent!
Great to be reminded of these wonderful moments, and happy to see my personal favourite, no 14, included in the hall of fame. As a family, we also very much enjoy what Mr Collins has to say, one of our favourite quotes is when he declares, ‘It’s been many years since I had such an exemplary vegetable.’ Priceless!
Till this moment I never knew myself.
That’s another great P&P quote!