In honor of Jane Austen’s 240th birthday, a few words she wrote that make our hearts sing

Today just feels a little more romantic, doesn’t it? Maybe that’s because today would be our beloved Jane Austen’s 240th birthday. Two centuries after she wrote *all* the beautiful words, we still adore her stories, remember her characters with so much fondness, and swoon over Mr. Darcy on the regular.

Not only is December 16th her birthday, it’s also Jane Austen Day, as declared by the Jane Austen Center in Bath, England. So on top of drinking lovely teas, reading her fabulous books, and rewatching the 1995 Pride and Prejudice mini-series, we’re also remembering her absolute best quotes about everything from friendship, love, being a woman, holding true to your beliefs, and living life to the fullest.

Here are some of our fave Jane Austen words. (But just some, because all would never be possible.)

“To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love.” –Pride and Prejudice

“Indulge your imagination in every possible flight.” –Pride and Prejudice

“There are as many forms of love as there are moments in time.” –Personal correspondence

“Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love.” –Northanger Abbey

“The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.” –Northanger Abbey

“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.” –Pride and Prejudice

“Know your own happiness. Want for nothing but patience — or give it a more fascinating name: Call it hope.” –Sense and Sensibility

“There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature.” –Northanger Abbey

“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.” –Persuasion

“Nothing ever fatigues me but doing what I do not like.” –Mansfield Park

“You must learn some of my philosophy. Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure.” –Pride and Prejudice

“They are much to be pitied who have not been given a taste for nature early in life.” –Mansfield Park

“Without music, life would be a blank to me.” –Emma

“Those who do not complain are never pitied.” –Pride and Prejudice

“It isn’t what we say or think that defines us, but what we do.” –Sense and Sensibility

“There are people who, the more you do for them, the less they will do for themselves.” –Emma

“To flatter and follow others, without being flattered and followed in turn, is but a state of half enjoyment.” –Persuasion

“Laugh as much as you choose, but you will not laugh me out of my opinion.” –Pride and Prejudice

“I always deserve the best treatment because I never put up with any other.” –Emma

Happy birthday, Jane Austen. Your beautiful words inspire us, and will still be inspiring readers 240 years from now.

Related reading: 

Channel your inner Jane Austen heroine with these DIY perfumes

What Jane Austen’s heroines taught me about love

(Image via Shutterstock)

Filed Under