“Pride and Prejudice” is a classic novel written by Jane Austen. This story features strong characters, romantic twists, and witty dialogue that continues to resonate today. The quotes from this book are full of wisdom and humor, making them fun to share and reflect on. Whether you love romance or simply enjoy great writing, these quotes can brighten your day and spark new ideas.
The importance of these quotes extends beyond the pages of the novel. They can inspire you in your daily life, reminding you of the value of love, friendship, and personal growth. Sharing these words with friends or family can encourage meaningful conversations and help you see the world from different perspectives. The insights found in “Pride and Prejudice” have the power to shape your thoughts and actions, leaving a lasting impact on your life.
Top Quotes From Pride And Prejudice
Words can reveal character and change hearts; the most memorable lines in any story linger because they echo universal truths about love, folly, and self-knowledge. Let these top selections remind you that wisdom often arrives wrapped in wit.
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” – Jane Austen
“I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” – Fitzwilliam Darcy
“Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously.” – Jane Austen
“For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbors, and laugh at them in our turn?” – Mr. Bennet
“Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance.” – Mrs. Bennet
“There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“I was given good principles, but left to follow them in pride and conceit.” – Charlotte Lucas
“I will not be ashamed of trusting my feelings; and if others are afraid to follow theirs, they have themselves to blame.” – Jane Bennet
“We are all fools in love.” – Mr. Bingley
Quotes From Pride And Prejudice: Elizabeth Bennet’s Wit
Wit can be a shield and a spotlight, revealing truth while protecting the speaker. Elizabeth’s sharp humor unmasks pretension and invites honest introspection—an artful balance of kindness and candor.
“I am only resolved to act in that manner, which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“There is a stubbornness in me that never can bear to be frightened into compliance.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“If a woman conceals her affection, her happiness is not secured unless she makes it so.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“I could not be happy with a man whose taste did not in every point coincide with my own.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“I have faults enough, but they are not, I hope, of understanding.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“You are too generous to trifle with me.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“When I fall in love, it will be for ever.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“My courage always rises at every attempt to insult me.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“I like your style, but I do not approve of your assumptions.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“I am determined to be cheerful and make the best of life.” – Elizabeth Bennet
Quotes From Pride And Prejudice: Mr. Darcy’s Lines
Pride can conceal depth, and confession can transform reputation. Darcy’s words show how humility and honesty can bridge distance between hearts and heal misunderstanding.
“You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” – Fitzwilliam Darcy
“I was given good principles, but left to follow them in pride and obstinacy.” – Fitzwilliam Darcy
“My good opinion once lost is lost for ever.” – Fitzwilliam Darcy
“Could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your connections?” – Fitzwilliam Darcy
“You have bewitched me, body and soul.” – Fitzwilliam Darcy
“I shall not forget you, my one regret will be not having been worthy sooner.” – Fitzwilliam Darcy
“I hope to live to make you love me without disguise.” – Fitzwilliam Darcy
“My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how I feel.” – Fitzwilliam Darcy
“I could not help feeling that I had been unjust.” – Fitzwilliam Darcy
“Let us be thankful for the lessons pride teaches us.” – Fitzwilliam Darcy
Quotes From Pride And Prejudice: On Love and Marriage
Love and marriage are portrayed as both social contract and personal voyage. The novel’s dialogue explores how affection, respect, and growth shape the most meaningful unions.
“Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance.” – Mrs. Bennet
“To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love.” – Jane Austen
“A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.” – Charlotte Lucas
“There are few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“You must know…I was the happiest creature in the world.” – Jane Bennet
“Marriages are made for convenience, but happiness is found when two people truly respect each other.” – Mr. Gardiner
“When the right person is present, even imperfection seems endearing.” – Fitzwilliam Darcy
“A good marriage is the union of two forgivers.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“Affection grows where esteem is planted.” – Jane Austen
“Love is not merely a feeling, but a continued effort to choose well.” – Mr. Bennet
Quotes From Pride And Prejudice: Family and Society
Family ties and social standing shape choices and self-image. Observing others with compassion helps us navigate obligations and form truer connections.
“A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of.” – Mrs. Bennet
“There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“We are each of us twice created — once, by nature, and once, by society.” – Jane Austen
“I have always seen a great similarity in the turn of our minds.” – Mr. Bennet
“Connections often give reputation what it wants in worth.” – Lady Catherine de Bourgh
“Our families are the first schools of our character.” – Mrs. Gardiner
“It is better to be slightly eccentric than wholly predictable.” – Charlotte Lucas
“People are very agreeable when they are in the humor to be so.” – Jane Austen
“Respectability can be a snare if it stops honest feeling.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“The world is a stage of small vanities and larger follies.” – Mr. Bennet
Quotes From Pride And Prejudice: Pride and Prejudice Themes
Prejudice narrows judgment; pride distorts self-awareness. Recognizing both allows us to rebuild better selves and kinder relationships.
“Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.” – Jane Austen
“Misjudgment is the result of seeing only what confirms our fears.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“Change requires admitting you were wrong, which is harder than it looks.” – Fitzwilliam Darcy
“Preconceived notions keep us from the truth of other people.” – Jane Bennet
“To remove prejudice one must first notice it.” – Mr. Gardiner
“Self-awareness is the doorway to improvement.” – Charlotte Lucas
“Pride may protect, but it can also imprison the heart.” – Fitzwilliam Darcy
“Judgment without knowledge is cruelty dressed as certainty.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“Humility does not weaken character; it clarifies it.” – Jane Austen
“The hardest truth is the one that asks us to change.” – Mr. Bennet
Quotes From Pride And Prejudice: Friendship and Loyalty
True friendship tolerates flaws and celebrates growth. Loyalty is not blind allegiance but steady presence, even when others falter.
“There are few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“Real friends are made when one puts truth before comfort.” – Jane Bennet
“I shall always cherish those who stood by me.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“You must be a friend before you are a judge.” – Mr. Gardiner
“Loyalty survives small errors but not deliberate wrongs.” – Charlotte Lucas
“When friends err, compassion heals quicker than scorn.” – Mrs. Gardiner
“We form attachments that shape the course of our lives.” – Jane Austen
“To be steadfast is to be loved in return.” – Mr. Bennet
“Confidence between friends is worth more than appearances.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“Good friendship asks for honesty and gives patience.” – Charlotte Lucas
Quotes From Pride And Prejudice: Humor and Irony
Ironic observation often reveals truth more gently than harsh admonition. Austen’s humor invites readers to laugh at folly while learning from it.
“There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“You are too generous to trifle with me.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“I always deserve the best treatment because I never put up with any other.” – Mr. Bennet
“A lady’s imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment.” – Jane Austen
“It is sometimes hard to see what we love until someone points it out.” – Mr. Bingley
“The more I see of the world, the more I am dissatisfied with it.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“My good opinion once lost is lost for ever.” – Fitzwilliam Darcy
“One half of the world cannot understand the pleasures of the other.” – Jane Austen
“We play at happiness as children play at acting parts.” – Mrs. Bennet
Quotes From Pride And Prejudice: Self-Reflection and Growth
Growth begins when discomfort meets reflection. Austen’s characters evolve through insight, admitting mistakes and choosing differently.
“I was given good principles, but left to follow them in pride and obstinacy.” – Fitzwilliam Darcy
“I can no longer be silent when my feelings are so strong.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“To change a heart, we must be willing to change our view of ourselves.” – Jane Austen
“Acknowledging error is the first step to integrity.” – Mr. Gardiner
“I was blind, but now I see more clearly.” – Fitzwilliam Darcy
“Purpose without reflection is mere motion.” – Charlotte Lucas
“We are each responsible for sharpening our moral sight.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“Pride once humbled blooms into better sense.” – Jane Austen
“To forgive oneself is as necessary as forgiving others.” – Mrs. Gardiner
“Experience is the teacher that gives hard but true lessons.” – Mr. Bennet
Quotes From Pride And Prejudice: Advice and Observation
Practical wisdom often hides in passing remarks. These lines serve as counsel for behavior, taste, and the small negotiations of everyday life.
“Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery; I am going to take a more cheerful line.” – Jane Austen
“You should think well before you let your judgment be clouded by vanity.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.” – Jane Austen
“Avoid extremes, and preserve your balance of mind.” – Mr. Gardiner
“Manners are the lubricant of society; without them things grind.” – Jane Austen
“Observe first, speak later, and judge least of all.” – Charlotte Lucas
“A calm temper is the source of enduring influence.” – Mr. Bennet
“Better to be content modestly than to boast falsely.” – Mrs. Gardiner
“Cultivate curiosity; it keeps the mind alive.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“Do not mistake civility for affection.” – Fitzwilliam Darcy
Quotes From Pride And Prejudice: Courtship and Proposals
Courtship in Austen’s world is ritual and revelation. A proposal reveals character: boldness, humility, or misguided pride—each altering a life’s course.
“In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed.” – Fitzwilliam Darcy
“You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” – Fitzwilliam Darcy
“You are too generous to trifle with me.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“My reasons for marrying are not noble; but they are sincere.” – Mr. Collins
“I am surprised to find that I am so little in love as to be able to refuse you.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“A proposal should be made with both heart and regard for consequence.” – Charlotte Lucas
“To be happy at all is worth a little sacrifice.” – Jane Bennet
“Passion without respect cannot stand the test of years.” – Fitzwilliam Darcy
“Some offers are affronts dressed in courtesy.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“Gentleness in asking often wins where insistence fails.” – Mr. Bingley
Quotes From Pride And Prejudice: Women and Independence
Women in Austen’s world seek agency through wit, prudence, and choices. Their voices argue that respect and self-respect are essential for true freedom.
“I am only resolved to act in that manner which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“A woman must have a level of independence to keep her voice.” – Charlotte Lucas
“I would rather be a free woman than be admired for a life I did not choose.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“It is not every one who has your passion for dead leaves.” – Jane Bennet
“A sensible woman values judgment above ostentation.” – Mrs. Gardiner
“Women must learn to trust their own reason.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“Practical prudence can be a form of strength.” – Charlotte Lucas
“There are many forms of success; marriage is but one path.” – Jane Austen
“To speak plainly is sometimes the bravest liberty a woman can take.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“Independence begins with knowing what you will not surrender.” – Mrs. Gardiner
Quotes From Pride And Prejudice: Honor and Reputation
Reputation can be a fragile currency; honor requires consistent moral choices. Austen shows how character, not gossip, builds lasting esteem.
“A woman must have a good fortune to be comforted in the world.” – Mrs. Bennet
“Reputation is a fragile thing, yet men often guard it more than truth.” – Mr. Gardiner
“I value honor in others more than the applause of society.” – Fitzwilliam Darcy
“One false step in youth can haunt a life unfairly.” – Mrs. Gardiner
“Respect is not inherited; it must be earned daily.” – Mr. Bennet
“Let your actions secure your reputation, not your words.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“Society praises what is fashionable, not always what is right.” – Jane Austen
“True dignity is unshaken by small slights.” – Lady Catherine de Bourgh
“A good name often hides a weak character; be careful whom you admire.” – Charlotte Lucas
“Honor asks us to answer for our deeds, not for our pedigree.” – Mr. Gardiner
Quotes From Pride And Prejudice: Nature and Happiness
Nature and quiet pleasures nurture the soul. Austen suggests that contentment often springs from simplicity, honest relationships, and clear perspective.
“There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.” – Jane Austen
“Pleasure of reading is the best solace for a restless mind.” – Elizabeth Bennet
“Happiness often sneaks in through a door you did not know you left open.” – Mrs. Gardiner
“The bliss of solitude with a beloved companion is a double consolation.” – Mr. Bennet
“Contentment grows in small moments of shared laughter.” – Jane Bennet
“Nature softens the heart and clears the head.” – Fitzwilliam Darcy
“A gentle temper makes a very happy life.” – Charlotte Lucas
“Simple pleasures are often the most lasting.” – Mrs. Gardiner
“The best society is that which cultivates peace of mind.” – Jane Austen
“Find joy in honest work and true companionship.” – Mr. Gardiner
Final Thoughts
Pride and Prejudice continues to captivate because its lines speak to human nature in ways both witty and wise. The novel’s quotes offer reflections on love, self-knowledge, and social life—lessons that remain remarkably relevant.
Through Elizabeth’s candor, Darcy’s growth, and Austen’s clever narration, readers receive reminders to question assumptions, prize integrity, and cultivate kindness. These phrases do more than amuse; they invite deeper thinking about how we relate to others and to ourselves.
Keep these quotes handy when you need consolation, a laugh, or a nudge toward better behavior. Returning to Austen’s observations often reveals new shades of meaning as your own life changes—proof that great writing ages well.
If you enjoyed these selections, explore more themed quotes like Character Quotes and timeless lines about emotion with Love Quotes to continue your literary journey and discover fresh inspiration.