Max Morris - The Smart Words and Wicked Wit of Jane Austen

For details, contact the Special Sales Department, Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018 or . Skyhorse and Skyhorse Publishing are registered trademarks of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc., a Delaware corporation. Visit our website at www.skyhorsepublishing.com. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file. Image credit: iStock Print ISBN: 978-1-5107-1581-3 Ebook ISBN: 978-1-5107-1584-4 Printed in China CONTENTS A SONG AND DANCE It was a splendid sight, and she began , for the first time that evening, to feel herself at a ball: she longed to dance, but she had not an acquaintance in the room . OF CATHERINE MORLAND, NORTHANGER ABBEY There is a fine old saying, which everybody here is of course familiar with: Keep your breath to cool your porridge; and I shall keep mine to swell my song.

ELIZABETH BENNET, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE The little Durands were there, I conclude with their mouths open to catch the music, like unfledged sparrows ready to be fed. MRS SMITH, PERSUASION There are some people who cannot bear a party of pleasure. MR WILLOUGHBY, SENSE AND SENSIBILITY My fingers do not move over this instrument in the masterly manner which I see so many womens do. They have not the same force or rapidity, and do not produce the same expression. But then I have always supposed it to be my own fault because I will not take the trouble of practising. ELIZABETH BENNET, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE Do you talk by rule, then, while you are dancing?
Sometimes.

One must speak a little, you know. It would look odd to be entirely silent for half an hour together; and yet for the advantage of some , conversation ought to be so arranged as that they may have the trouble of saying as little as possible. MR DARCY AND ELIZABETH BENNET, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE Matrimony and dancing in both, man has the advantage of choice, women only the power of refusal. HENRY TILNEY, NORTHANGER ABBEY People that marry can never part, but must go and keep house together. People that dance only stand opposite each other in a long room for half an hour. CATHERINE MORLAND, NORTHANGER ABBEY STYLE AND DRESS Lady Catherine will not think the worse of you for being simply dressed .

She likes to have the distinction of rank preserved . MR COLLINS, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE One mans style must not be the rule of anothers. MR KNIGHTLEY, EMMA He was a stout young man of middling height, who, with a plain face and ungraceful form, seemed fearful of being too handsome unless he wore the dress of a groom, and too much like a gentleman unless he were easy where he ought to be civil, and impudent where he might be allowed to be easy. OF JOHN THORPE, NORTHANGER ABBEY You really must get some flounces . LETTER TO CASSANDRA You are never sure of a good impression being durable. CAPTAIN WENTWORTH, PERSUASION A simple style of dress is so infinitely preferable to finery few people seem to value simplicity of dress show and finery are everything.

MRS ELTON, EMMA Dress is at all times a frivolous distinction, and excessive solicitude about it often destroys its own aim. NORTHANGER ABBEY Considering how very handsome she is, she appears to be little occupied with it . MR KNIGHTLEY ON EMMA WOODHOUSE, EMMA To be in company, nicely dressed herself and seeing others nicely dressed, to sit and smile and look pretty, and say nothing, was enough for the happiness of the present hour. EMMA Dress was her passion. She had a most harmless delight in being fine. OF MRS ALLEN, NORTHANGER ABBEY A person may be proud without being vain.

Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves; vanity, to what we would have others think of us. MARY BENNET, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE Nobody can think less of dress in general than I do but upon such an occasion as this, when every bodys eyes are so much upon me, and in compliment to the Westons who I have no doubt are giving this ball chiefly to do me honour I would not wish to be inferior to others. And I see very few pearls in the room except mine. MRS ELTON, EMMA It would be mortifying to the feelings of many ladies, could they be made to understand how little the heart of man is affected by what is costly or new in their attire; how little it is biased by the texture of their muslin, and how unsusceptible of peculiar tenderness towards the spotted, the sprigged, the mull, or the jackonet. NORTHANGER ABBEY I cannot help thinking that it is more natural to have flowers grow out of the head than fruit. LETTER TO CASSANDRA Woman is fine for her own satisfaction alone.