Pride and Prejudice Quotes

The narrator, of Mr Bennet, at Longbourn - while everyone's excited about the arrival of Bingley - to show the pleasure he takes in teasing his wife.

"He had always intended to visit [Bingley], though to the last always assuring his wife that he should not go."

Mr Bennet to Mrs Bennet, at Longbourn - while she's excited about the arrival of Mr Bingley - because he's humouring her.

"You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends."

Mr Darcy to Elizabeth, about Jane, in his letter to Lizzy, as a response to her accusations against him at Hunsford.

"Her looks and manners were open, cheerful and engaging as ever, but without any symptoms of peculiar regard."

Lizzy to herself, at Longbourn, while realising with regret how prejudiced she was against Darcy and in favour of Wickham.

"How despicably I have acted."

The narrator, of Mr Bennet, at Longbourn - while hearing about Lydia's plans to go to Brighton - to show his unfortunate lack of gravitas.

"Her father, contented with laughing at them ..."

Lizzy to Mrs Bennet, at Longbourn - while everyone's concerned about Jane - because she believes Bingley has decided to stay in London.

"I do not believe he will ever live at Netherfield."

Mr Bennet to Lizzy, at Longbourn - while hearing about Lydia's plans for Brighton - because he isn't taking the matter seriously enough.

"Lydia will never be easy until she has exposed herself in some public place or other."

Mrs Bennet to Mr Bennet, at Longbourn - while discussing Mr Bingley's arrival at Netherfield - because she has such a strategic approach to marrying her daughters.

"Know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them."

Mrs Bennet to her daughters, at Longbourn - after hearing that her husband has called on Bingley - because she believes this is the first step on an inevitable path towards marriage.

"What an excellent father you have girls!"

Mr Darcy to Mr Bingley, at the Meryton assembly - while everyone's dancing - because he's too proud for the company.

"She is tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt me."

Bingley's sisters to Darcy and Bingley, at Netherfield - while they are all discussing Jane - because they will say whatever they think is likely to please Darcy.

"She is a sweet girl."

Lizzy to Mrs Bennet and Charlotte Lucas, at Longbourn - while everyone's catching up after the Meryton assembly - because she has contempt for Darcy.

"I may safely promise you never to dance with him."

The narrator of Sir William Lucas, at Lucas Lodge - while the narrator's introducing the Lucas family - to show the foolish pride he takes in his knighthood.

"... where he could think with pleasure of his own importance."

The narrator of Mrs Bennet and Mary, Lydia and Kitty, at Netherfield - while Bingley and his friends receive a visit from the Bennets - to show how Darcy, Caroline Bingley and Mrs Hurst regard the Bennets.

"The mother was found to be intolerable and the younger sisters not worth talking to."

Lizzy to Darcy, at Netherfield - while everyone's discussing the ideal qualities in an accomplished woman - because she thinks Darcy's expectations are unreasonable.

"I never saw such capacity, and taste, and application, and elegance as you describe united."

The narrator, of Lizzy, at Longbourn - while preparing for the ball at Netherfield - to show that she wants to impress Wickham.

"She dressed with more than usual care."

Lizzy to Collins, at Longbourn - while she is rejecting his proposal - because she finds him preposterous but is trying to be polite.

"I thank you again and again for the honours you have done me, but to accept them is absolutely impossible. My feelings in every respect forbid it."

Mrs Bennet to Lizzy, at Longbourn - having heard that Lizzy has rejected Collins - because she is trying to manipulate the situation.

"I should never speak to you again and you will find me as good as my word."

Jane to Lizzy, in her room at Longbourn - while preparing to share the contents of a letter - because she is upset and needs support.

"This is from Caroline Bingley; what it contains has surprised me."

The narrator, of Jane and Lizzy - while their mother insists on talking about Bingley - to show that following his departure to London they are uncomfortable with the subject.

"Neither Jane nor Lizzy were comfortable on this subject."

Mary to her family, at Longbourn - while the news is breaking about Lydia's elopement with Wickham - to show her tendency to find a bookish moral in everything.

"Unhappy as this event must be for Lydia, we may draw from it this useful lesson: loss of virtue in a female is irrecoverable, one false step involves her in needless ruin."

Jane to Lizzy, at Longbourn, while reading Mr Gardiner's letter - because she is shocked.

"A gamester!"

Mr Bennet to his four eldest daughters, at Longbourn - having heard of Wickham and Lydia's impending wedding - because he is so grateful to his brother-in-law.

"Yes, yes, they must marry. There is nothing else to be done. But there are two things I want very much to know. One is how much money your uncle has laid down to bring it about; and the other, how am I ever to pay him?"

The narrator of Lizzy, at Longbourn, as she realises how well suited she is to Darcy.

"She began now to comprehend that he was exactly the man who, in disposition and talk, would most suit her."

Mrs Gardiner to Lizzy, at Longbourn - while they are discussing Darcy - to show her surprise at, but also her support of, Lizzy's choice.

"He wants nothing but a little more liveliness."

Jane to Lizzy, at Longbourn - while their mother remains ignorant about the true nature of Bingley's departure - because she wants support.

"She can have no idea of the pain she gives me by her continual reflections on him."

Jane to Lizzy, at Longbourn - after Bingley has left - because she's too goodnatured to take offence.

"He may live in my memory as the most amiable man of my acquaintance."

Mr Bennet to Lizzy, at Longbourn - after Bingley has deserted Jane - because he doesn't take things seriously.

"A girl likes to be crossed in love a little now and then."

The narrator of Mr Gardiner's arrival at Longbourn.

"A sensible, gentlemanlike man."

The narrator, of Mrs Gardiner, at Meryton - while Lizzy accompanies Wickham - because she's perceptive and protective.

"... rendered suspicious, she narrowly regarded them both."

The narrator, of Lizzy, at Longbourn - after Wickham is named as a suitor to Miss King - to show her disappointment.

"Her vanity was satisfied with believing that she would have been his only choice, had fortune permitted it."

The narrator, of Lizzy, at Longbourn, having heard of Charlotte's engagement to Collins.

"... feeling that all the comfort of intimacy was over."

Darcy to Lizzy, at Netherfield - during drawing-room evenings with the Bingleys and Hursts - to show what in his opinion is his sole weakness.

"My opinion once lost is lots forever."

Darcy to Mrs Bennet, at Netherfield - while Jane is recuperating from her illness - because he's trying to impress Lizzy.

"I have been used to consider poetry as the food of love."

Mrs Reynolds to Lizzy and the Gardiners, at Pemberley - while looking around the house - in response to enquiries about her master's character.

"I have never had a cross word from him in my life."

Mrs Reynolds to Lizzy, at Pemberley - in response to a question about Darcy - to show her fondness for her master.

"Some people may call him proud, but I have seen nothing of it."

Caroline Bingley to Lizzy, at Netherfield - following news of the departure of the militia from Meryton - because she's spitefully impugning Kitty and Lydia of loose morals.

"It must be a great loss to your family."

The narrator, of Lizzy, at the inn near Pemberley - while Lizzy is in confusion about how to view Mr Darcy.

"She certainly did not hate him."

The narrator, of Pemberley, to show how the house represents its master.

"A large, handsome, stone building, standing well on the rising ground."

Darcy to Caroline Bingley, at Pemberley - while Caroline is being rude about Lizzy and her family - to show that he cares for Lizzy.

"I have considered her as one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance."

Mr Collins to Lizzy, at Hunsford - while Lizzy is visiting Charlotte - because he's showing off.

"You will have the honour of seeing Lady Catherine de Bourgh."

Lady Catherine de Bourgh, to Lizzy, at Rosings - over dinner - to show her disapproval of the Bennet family.

"Five daughters brought up at home without a governess! I never heard of such a thing."

Colonel Fitzwilliam to Lizzy, in the woods around Rosings - while discussing Darcy's influence on Bingley - without realising how Lizzy will understand this.

"He congratulated himself on having lately saved a friend from the inconveniences of a most imprudent marriage."

The narrator, of Darcy, at Hunsford, while he's proposing to Lizzy.

"His sense of her inferiority."

Darcy to Lizzy, at Hunsford - while Lizzy is staying with Charlotte Collins - because he's fallen in love with her against his own will.

"You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."

Mr Bennet to Mrs Bennet, at Longbourn - having received a letter from Mr Collins - to show how he takes pleasure in teasing his wife.

"The person who I speak of is a gentleman and a stranger."

The narrator, of Mr Collins, at Longbourn, to show how quickly he changed his affections from Jane to Lizzy.

"And it was soon done."

Lizzy to Wickham, at the Phillipses in Meryton - while talking about Darcy's childhood - because she's keen to side with Wickham against Darcy.

"Can such abominable pride as his ever have done him good?"

The narrator, of Jane, at Longbourn - while talking to Lizzy about Wickham - because she struggles to think poorly of people.

"She knew not how to believe that Mr Darcy could be so unworthy of Mr Bingley's regard."

Lady Catherine de Bourgh to Lizzy, at Longbourn - while she's confronting Lizzy about Darcy - because she wants to prevent the marriage.

"Because honour, decorum, prudence, nay, interest, forbid it."

Lady Catherine de Bourgh to Lizzy, at Longbourn - while arguing about Darcy - because she can't believe Lizzy's standing up to her.

"Obstinate, headstrong girl!"

Lizzy to Lady Catherine de Bourgh, at Longbourn - during their argument - as she stands up for herself.

"I am a gentleman's daughter."

Lizzy to Lady Catherine de Bourgh, at Longbourn - while arguing about Darcy - because she is refusing to allow Lady Catherine to intimidate her.

"I will make no promise of the kind."

Lizzy to Lady Catherine de Bourgh, at Longbourn - while asking Lady Catherine to leave - because she won;t allow the insult to go any further.

"You have insulted me in every possible method."

Lizzy to Lady Catherine de Bourgh, at Longbourn - while arguing - because she won't be bullied out of loving Darcy.

"I am resolved to act in that manner which will, in my opinion, constitute my happiness."

Mr Bennet to Lizzy, at Longbourn - having received a letter from Mr Colllins about Darcy's rumoured engagement to Lizzy - because he doesn't yet realise Lizzy loves Darcy.

"Mr Darcy, who never looks at any women but to see a blemish."

Darcy to Lizzy, at Longbourn - while proposing for a second time - because he doesn't want to upset her.

"My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on the subject forever."

Lizzy to Darcy, at Longbourn - while they are discussing their former prejudice against each other - because she wants to show how much she's changed.

"Oh, do not repeat what I then said. These recollections will not do at all."

Jane to Lizzy, at Longbourn - having heard of Lizzy's engagement - because she's worried Lizzy may be making the same error as Charlotte Collins.

"Oh, Lizzy! It cannot be. I know how much you dislike him."

Lizzy to Jane, at Longbourn - while discussing Lizzy's engagement to Darcy - in a playfully ironic manner.

"I believe I must date [my affection] from my first seeing his beautiful grounds at Pemberley."

Lizzy to Mr Bennet, at Longbourn - after Mr Bennet has given his consent to Darcy's proposal - because she wants to assure her father she will be happy.

"I love him. Indeed, he has no improper pride."

Lydia to Lizzy, in a letter from Newcastle, because she's trying to acquire more money from Darcy.

"I do not think we shall have quite money enough to live upon without some help."

The narrator, of Georgiana, at Pemberley - at the end of the novel - to show how happily they all lived ever after.

"Georgiana had the highest opinion in the world of Elizabeth."