Fav. Quotes Thus Far

Below is a few of my favorite quotes from Pride and Prejudice.  I had to pare it down because at times I found whole pages completely delightful.  Feel blessed that I have spared you the need to comment "Too long.  Didn't read."

On the subject of Mr. Bennet's regard for Mrs. Bennet's "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 twenty years at least."

A description of Mr. Bennet: "Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three and twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character."

Of Mrs. Bennet: "When she was discontented she fancied herself nervous.  The business of her life was to get her daughters married; its solace was visiting and news."

Of Mr. Darcy: "He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and every body hoped he would never come there again."

By Elizabeth of Mr. Bingely:  "He is also handsome," replied Elizabeth, "which a young man ought likewise to be, if he possibly can.  His character is thereby complete."

From Charlotte to Elizabeth on the subject of marriage: "When she is secure of him, there will be leisure of falling in love as much as she chuses."  "Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance."  "...it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life."

Mr. Darcy's thoughts of Elizabeth: "Though he had detected with a critical eye more than one failure of perfect symmetry in her form, he was forced to acknowledge her figure to be light and pleasing."

Mr. Darcy on the fairer sex:  "A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment."

On the subject of Mr. Hurst:  "...and as for Mr. Hurst, by whom Elizabeth sat, he was an insolent man, who lived only to eat, drink, and play at cards, who when he found her prefer a plain dish to a ragout, had nothing to say to her."

Mr. Darcy on humility: "Nothing is more deceitful," said Darcy, "than the appearance of humility.  It is often only carelessness of opinion, and sometimes an indirect boast."

The exchanges in general between Mr. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennet are clearly worth the price of entry.  Not since "Much Ado About Nothing"s Benedick and Beatrice have I delighted in such biting witty repartee.  I hope happily ever after doesn't happen too quickly for them.

Pax,

Will