Can genuine love and self-awareness truly conquer pride and prejudice in a world governed by strict social hierarchies and the pressing need for advantageous marriage?
Jane Austen’s enduring masterpiece, Pride and Prejudice, masterfully weaves a witty and insightful tale of Regency England’s manners, class, and courtship.
Through the spirited Elizabeth Bennet and the proud Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, Austen explores the perils of first impressions and the transformative power of true understanding.
Our curated collection of 45 iconic Pride and Prejudice quotes with page numbers (Penguin Classics 2002 edition) illuminates the novel’s sharp social commentary.
Each quote is paired with an analysis delving into its significance for the narrative’s central conflicts and enduring themes, inviting you to journey through a timeless exploration of human nature.
The novel famously opens by establishing the societal pressures surrounding marriage and fortune, setting the stage for the Bennet family’s anxieties and ambitions.
The Truth Universally Acknowledged: On Marriage, Fortune & Society
Austen immediately immerses us in a world where a woman’s prospects are intrinsically linked to marriage, and the arrival of a wealthy bachelor sends ripples of speculation and strategic maneuvering through the neighborhood. These quotes reveal the era’s practical, often cynical, views on matrimony.
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
(Speaker: Narrator, Chapter 1, Page 5)
Austen’s iconic opening sentence masterfully employs irony. While presented as a “universally acknowledged truth,” it immediately reveals the societal obsession with marriage as an economic transaction, particularly from the perspective of families with eligible daughters.
“My dear Mr. Bennet,” said his lady to him one day, “have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?”
(Speaker: Mrs. Bennet, Chapter 1, Page 5)
Mrs. Bennet’s eager inquiry ignites the novel’s central plot. Her immediate focus on Netherfield Park’s new, wealthy tenant underscores her primary, all-consuming concern: securing advantageous marriages for her five daughters.
“When a woman has five grown-up daughters, she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty.”
(Speaker: Mrs. Bennet, Chapter 1, Page 6)
This pronouncement from Mrs. Bennet reveals her singular focus on her daughters’ marital prospects, sacrificing her own vanity (or so she claims) for the greater family ambition of securing their futures through what she deems suitable matches.
“To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love”
(Speaker: Narrator, Chapter 3, Page 11)
The narrator offers this societal observation, highlighting how activities like dancing were perceived as direct pathways to romantic attachment and, consequently, marriage. Balls were primary venues for courtship and social assessment in Regency England.
“If a woman conceals her affection with the same skill from the object of it, she may lose the opportunity of fixing him… In nine cases out of ten a women had better show more affection than she feels.”
(Speaker: Charlotte Lucas, Chapter 6, Pages 22-23)
Charlotte Lucas voices a pragmatic, almost cynical, view on courtship. She advises that women should actively display affection, even exaggerate it, to secure a proposal, contrasting sharply with Jane Bennet’s reserved nature and Elizabeth’s desire for genuine connection.
“Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance.”
(Speaker: Charlotte Lucas, Chapter 6, Page 24)
Charlotte’s cold assertion reflects her pragmatic approach to marriage. She downplays the importance of deep prior knowledge or romantic love, viewing matrimony more as a practical arrangement for security, where emotional happiness is unpredictable.
“The wisest and the best of men… may be rendered ridiculous by a person whose first object in life is a joke.”
(Speaker: Mr. Darcy, Chapter 11, Page 56)
Darcy’s observation, likely a pointed remark towards Elizabeth’s witty disposition, suggests his discomfort with overt playfulness that might undermine seriousness or decorum. It reflects his more reserved nature and perhaps a fear of social vulnerability.
“Without thinking highly either of men or of matrimony, marriage had always been her object; it was the only honourable provision for well-educated young women of small fortune…”
(Speaker: Narrator about Charlotte Lucas, Chapter 22, Page 120)
The narrator reveals Charlotte Lucas’s practical view of marriage. For women like her, lacking independent wealth, marriage was less a romantic ideal and more a necessary “honourable provision” for social and financial security in a restrictive society.
“That the Bennets were engaged to dine with the Lucases and again during the chief of the day was Miss Lucas so kind as to listen to Mr. Collins. Elizabeth took an opportunity of thanking her. “It keeps him in good humour,” said she, “and I am more obliged to you than I can express.” Charlotte assured her friend of her satisfaction in being useful, and that it amply repaid her for the little sacrifice of her time.”
(Speaker: Narrator/Dialogue with Elizabeth & Charlotte, Chapter 22, Page 86)
This interaction subtly foreshadows Charlotte’s strategic approach to marriage. Her willingness to endure Mr. Collins’s company to be “useful” to Elizabeth hints at her pragmatic nature and her understanding that even tiresome social engagements can serve long-term personal aims.
Initial encounters at the Meryton assembly immediately establish the central conflict between Elizabeth Bennet’s spirited wit and Mr. Darcy’s seemingly arrogant disdain, stage a clash of pride and prejudice.
First Impressions: Prejudice, Pride & Poor Judgment
Swift judgments and societal pronouncements dominate the early chapters. Darcy’s infamous slight and Elizabeth’s sharp observations lay the foundation for their mutual misunderstanding, fueled by individual pride and societal prejudice.
“He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and every body hoped that he would never come there again.”
(Speaker: Narrator about Darcy, Chapter 3, Page 13)
This sweeping condemnation by the Meryton community, based on Darcy’s reserved and aloof behavior at the first ball, highlights how quickly and decisively social judgments were formed, often on superficial first impressions within their close-knit society.
“She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me; I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men.”
(Speaker: Mr. Darcy about Elizabeth, Chapter 3, Page 13)
Darcy’s dismissive comment about Elizabeth, cruelly overheard by her, is the initial spark of her potent prejudice. His words not only critique her appearance but also reveal his own pride and social arrogance, deeming her unworthy of his attention in that public forum.
“I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine.”
(Speaker: Elizabeth Bennet about Darcy, Chapter 5, Page 21)
Elizabeth pinpoints the core of her animosity towards Darcy. It’s not his pride in abstract that offends her, but its direct impact on her self-esteem (“mortified mine”), showcasing her sensitivity and an equally strong sense of pride.
“Vanity and pride are different things… Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.”
(Speaker: Mary Bennet, Chapter 5, Page 21)
Mary’s pedantic distinction between vanity and pride offers abstract commentary. While perhaps offering to display her own learning, it touches upon key themes the novel explores through the actions and self-perceptions of its central characters, Elizabeth and Darcy.
“Nothing is more deceitful,” said Darcy, “than the appearance of humility. It is often only carelessness of opinion, and sometimes an indirect boast.”
(Speaker: Mr. Darcy, Chapter 10, Page 47)
Darcy’s cynical observation about humility suggests his general distrust of appearances and social performances. It reveals his analytical nature and perhaps his own awareness of how individuals, including himself, might manipulate perceptions for effect.
“Yes, vanity is a weakness indeed. But pride – where there is a real superiority of mind, pride will be always under good regulation.”
(Speaker: Mr. Darcy to Elizabeth, Chapter 11, Page 57)
In this exchange with Elizabeth, Darcy defends a certain kind of intellectual or character-based pride, linking it to “real superiority of mind” and self-regulation. This statement reveals his own values and self-perception, even as Elizabeth likely interprets it as further evidence of his arrogance.
“My good opinion once lost, is lost forever.”
(Speaker: Mr. Darcy, Chapter 11, Page 40)
Darcy’s declaration of his implacable nature reveals a core aspect of his pride and perhaps his capacity for holding onto initial judgments. This inflexibility, a refusal to easily revise a “good opinion once lost,” becomes a significant challenge in his evolving relationship with Elizabeth.
“His guilt and his descent appear by your account to be the same,” said Elizabeth angrily; “for I have heard you accuse him of nothing worse than of being the son of Mr. Darcy’s steward, and of that, I can assure you, he informed me himself.”
(Speaker: Elizabeth Bennet to Caroline Bingley about Wickham, Chapter 18, Page 67)
Elizabeth’s fiery defense of Wickham against Caroline Bingley’s class-based insinuations demonstrates her early prejudice in Wickham’s favor and against the Darcy contingent. She misinterprets social disdain as an attack on Wickham’s moral character, highlighting her own biases at this stage.
“How despicably I have acted!… I, who have prided myself on my discernment!… Had I been in love, I could not have been more wretchedly blind. But vanity, not love, has been my folly… Till this moment I never knew myself.”
(Speaker: Elizabeth Bennet, Chapter 36, Page 202)
This moment of profound self-realization, after reading Darcy’s explanatory letter, marks a crucial turning point for Elizabeth. She confronts her own “vanity” and flawed “discernment,” recognizing how her pride and initial prejudice have blinded her to the truth about Darcy and Wickham.
“She told the story, however, with great spirit among her friends; for she had a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in any thing ridiculous.”
(Speaker: The Narrator about Elizabeth, Chapter 3, Page 14)
This early narrative insight into Elizabeth’s character establishes her “lively, playful disposition” and her appreciation for the “ridiculous.” This trait informs her witty responses and her initial, somewhat amused, dismissal of Darcy’s seriousness.
“One cannot know what a man really is by the end of a fortnight.”
(Speaker: Mr. Bennet, Chapter 2, Page 9)
Mr. Bennet’s wry comment to his wife is a piece of early wisdom, cautioning against the hasty judgments made by Meryton society regarding Mr. Bingley. It subtly underscores the novel’s central theme of first impressions often being misleading.
Despite initial animosities and misunderstandings, Elizabeth and Darcy’s interactions are charged with an undeniable intellectual spark, hinting at a deeper connection beneath the surface of their witty and often contentious exchanges.
Stirrings of Affection: Love, Admiration & Misunderstanding
Austen masterfully portrays the gradual, often reluctant, unfolding of affection between Elizabeth and Darcy. Their journey is marked by sharp wit, intellectual sparring, and moments of unexpected vulnerability, as their initial prejudices slowly give way to a dawning, though frequently misinterpreted, admiration.
“I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow.”
(Speaker: Mr. Darcy, Chapter 6, SRE PDF Page 16)
Though delivered generally during a social gathering, Darcy’s remark about “fine eyes” is understood by the reader (and eventually Elizabeth) to refer to her. It’s his first subtle, almost involuntary, admission of finding her attractive, despite his reservations.
“A lady’s imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment.”
(Speaker: Mr. Darcy, Chapter 6, SRE PDF Page 18)
Darcy’s dryly witty observation to Miss Bingley, who is teasing him about Elizabeth, reveals his amusement at societal matchmaking. It perhaps also hints at his awareness of how quickly interpretations of affection can escalate in their social circle.
“I wonder who first discovered the efficacy of poetry in driving away love!… I have been used to consider poetry as the food of love… Of a fine, stout, healthy love it may… but if it be only a slight, thin sort of inclination, I am convinced that one good sonnet will starve it entirely away.”
(Dialogue: Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, Chapter 9, SRE PDF Page 31)
This intellectual sparring match showcases their contrasting views on romance and expression. Elizabeth’s playful skepticism about poetry’s power over love clashes with Darcy’s more traditionally romantic, yet still critical, notion of how true affection is (or isn’t) nurtured.
“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.”
(Speaker: Elizabeth Bennet, Chapter 31, Page 170)
Elizabeth’s assertion of her own “stubbornness” and rising “courage” in the face of intimidation, delivered to Darcy at Rosings, is a key declaration of her independent spirit. It challenges any perceived attempt to daunt her and highlights her resilience.
“In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”
(Speaker: Mr. Darcy, Chapter 34, Page 185)
Darcy’s first proposal, though shockingly delivered with proud admissions of societal objections, is an undeniable confession of deep, “ardent” love. The phrase “In vain I have struggled” reveals the depth of his internal conflict and the powerful, irresistible nature of his feelings for Elizabeth.
“I might as well inquire… why with so evident a desire of offending and insulting me, you chose to tell me that you liked me against your will…? Was not this some excuse for incivility…? do you think that any consideration would tempt me to accept the man who has been the means of ruining… the happiness of a most beloved sister?”
(Speaker: Elizabeth Bennet to Mr. Darcy, Chapter 34, Page 186)
Elizabeth’s passionate rejection of Darcy’s first proposal is fueled by her wounded pride (“offending and insulting me”) and her fierce loyalty to Jane. Her accusations highlight her deep-seated prejudice against him, based on his perceived interference and his offensive manner.
“You could not have made me the offer of your hand in any possible way that would have tempted me to accept it.”
(Speaker: Elizabeth Bennet to Mr. Darcy, Chapter 34, Page 188)
This definitive and cutting refusal underscores Elizabeth’s negative feelings towards Darcy at this point in the narrative. It leaves no room for doubt about her rejection, stemming from his offensive manner of proposal and her perception of his character.
“She certainly did not hate him… The respect created by the conviction of his valuable qualities… was now heightened into somewhat of a friendlier nature… It was gratitude.–Gratitude not merely for having once loved her, but for loving her still well enough, to forgive…”
(Speaker: Narrator about Elizabeth Bennet, Chapter 44, Page 253)
After visiting Pemberley and hearing Mrs. Reynolds’ glowing account, Elizabeth’s perception of Darcy begins a significant transformation. “Respect” for his true character and “gratitude” for his enduring affection, despite her harsh rejection, start to dismantle her prejudice, fostering a “friendlier nature” and deeper understanding.
The rigid social structures and the financial realities of the Bennet family create significant obstacles to the happiness of Jane and Elizabeth, forcing difficult choices and revealing the often-harsh calculations behind marital alliances.
The Weight of Family & Fortune: Obstacles to Happiness
Societal expectations, the influence of family reputation (particularly Mrs. Bennet’s impropriety and Lydia’s recklessness), and the critical importance of financial security weigh heavily on the characters’ romantic prospects. Austen explores how these external pressures can thwart genuine affection and lead to pragmatic, if not entirely happy, unions.
“Mr. Bingley was good-looking and gentlemanlike… but his friend Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention of the room… till his manners gave a disgust which turned the tide of his popularity; for he was discovered to be proud…”
(Speaker: Narrator describing Darcy and Bingley, Chapter 3, Page 12)
This initial contrast between Bingley’s easy affability and Darcy’s perceived pride establishes a key social dynamic. While Bingley effortlessly wins favor, Darcy’s reserved and seemingly disdainful “manners” immediately alienate the Meryton society, highlighting the importance of social grace over mere status or appearance in their initial judgments.
“But it must very materially lessen their chance of marrying men of any consideration in the world,” replied Darcy.
(Speaker: Mr. Darcy about the Bennets’ connections, Chapter 8, Page 25)
Darcy’s blunt assessment of the Bennets’ “low connections”—specifically their mother’s lack of propriety and their uncle in trade—reveals his class-based objections to Bingley forming an attachment to Jane. He believes these social disadvantages “materially lessen their chance” with suitors of “consideration.”
“If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged; but one word from you will silence me on this subject for ever.”
(Speaker: Mr. Darcy to Elizabeth, Chapter 58, Page 256)
Darcy’s second proposal demonstrates profound character growth and humility. His willingness to be definitively “silenced” by Elizabeth’s potential rejection, despite his “unchanged” affections and wishes, shows a newfound respect for her agency and a vulnerability contrasting his first arrogant offer.
“The engagement between them is of a peculiar kind. From their infancy, they have been intended for each other. It was the favourite wish of his mother, as well as of her’s.”
(Speaker: Lady Catherine de Bourgh about Darcy and her daughter, Chapter 56, Page 248)
Lady Catherine de Bourgh forcefully asserts a long-standing familial expectation for Darcy’s marriage to her daughter, Anne. This supposed “engagement,” based on dynastic wishes and equal social standing rather than affection, represents the formidable societal pressures Darcy must defy to choose Elizabeth.
“He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman’s daughter. So far we are equal.”
(Speaker: Elizabeth Bennet to Lady Catherine, Chapter 56, Page 249)
Elizabeth boldly challenges Lady Catherine’s class-based objections to her potential match with Darcy. Her assertion of fundamental equality (“He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman’s daughter”) defiantly claims her own social standing by birth and rejects the notion that Lady Catherine’s superior rank or fortune dictates her nephew’s choice or Elizabeth’s worthiness.
“My child, let me not have the grief of seeing you unable to respect your partner in life. You know not what you are about.”
(Speaker: Mr. Bennet to Elizabeth, Chapter 59, Page 264)
Mr. Bennet’s heartfelt concern for Elizabeth’s future happiness reveals his deep understanding of her character and intelligence. He wisely cautions that her “lively talents” require a partner she can “truly esteem” to avoid the profound “discredit and misery” of an unequal or ill-suited marriage.
“I am astonished, my dear,” said Mrs. Bennet, “that you should be so ready to think your own children silly. If I wished to think slightingly of anybody’s children, it should not be of my own, however.”
(Speaker: Mrs. Bennet to Mr. Bennet, Chapter 7, Page 19)
Mrs. Bennet’s indignant reply to her husband’s candid criticism of Lydia and Kitty perfectly showcases her deep lack of self-awareness and her inability to perceive her daughters’ (and her own) social failings and foolishness, a key source of mortification for Elizabeth and Jane.
“In vain did Elizabeth endeavour to check the rapidity of her mother’s words, or persuade her to describe her felicity in a less audible whisper; for, to her inexpressible vexation, she could perceive that the chief of it was overheard by Mr. Darcy, who sat opposite to them.”
(Speaker: Narrator about Elizabeth/Mrs. Bennet, Chapter 18, Page 70)
This scene vividly portrays Elizabeth’s acute embarrassment at her mother’s loud and improper public discussion of Jane and Bingley’s prospects. Mrs. Bennet’s tactless pronouncements, directly in Darcy’s hearing, highlight the very family impropriety that fuels his concerns and Elizabeth’s “inexpressible vexation.”
“Nobody can tell what I suffer! But it is always so. Those who do not complain are never pitied.”
(Speaker: Mrs. Bennet, Chapter 20, Page 111)
This classic lament from Mrs. Bennet encapsulates her tendency towards dramatic self-pity and her consistent belief that her “sufferings” (often related to her “poor nerves” and anxieties about her daughters’ marriage prospects) are unappreciated precisely because, in her view, she doesn’t complain enough—an assertion her family would likely dispute.
Through wit, spirited dialogue, and profound self-examination, Austen’s characters navigate the complexities of their society, offering timeless reflections on love, life, and the journey toward genuine understanding.
Reflections & Resolutions: The Path to True Understanding
The novel concludes with its central characters achieving not just romantic happiness, but a deeper understanding of themselves and each other. Their reflections reveal the lessons learned about pride, prejudice, and the true foundations of a happy and respectable life within their society.
“They have none of them much to recommend them,” replied he; “they are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sisters.”
(Speaker: Mr. Bennet, Chapter 1, Page 7)
Mr. Bennet’s early, cynical assessment of his daughters accurately singles out Elizabeth’s superior “quickness” (intelligence and wit). This acknowledgment establishes her as distinct within the family and hints at his particular, albeit often teasing, affection and respect for her.
“You are over-scrupulous, surely. I dare say Mr. Bingley will be very glad to see you; and I will send a few lines by you to assure him of my hearty consent to his marrying whichever he chooses of the girls; though I must throw in a good word for my little Lizzy.”
(Speaker: Mr. Bennet to Mrs. Bennet, Chapter 1, Page 7)
This quote perfectly captures Mr. Bennet’s dry, sarcastic wit and ironic detachment from his wife’s matchmaking anxieties. His feigned generosity in consenting to Bingley marrying “whichever he chooses” while simultaneously, and perhaps more sincerely, favoring “little Lizzy” is a classic tease.
“There are few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well. The more I see of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it…”
(Speaker: Elizabeth Bennet, Chapter 24, Page 133)
Elizabeth expresses her growing disillusionment with the superficiality and moral failings she observes in society. Her discerning nature makes her affections and good opinions rare, reserved only for those she deems truly worthy after careful observation.
“Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure.”
(Speaker: Elizabeth Bennet to Darcy, Chapter 58, Page 258)
Offering Darcy her own acquired philosophy, Elizabeth suggests a selective and constructive engagement with memory, advocating for focusing on its positive aspects to ensure present happiness. This advice, given after their mutual confessions and growth, points towards healing and moving forward from past pains and misunderstandings.
“I have been a selfish being all my life… As a child I was taught what was right, but I was not taught to correct my temper… Such I was, from eight to eight and twenty; and such I might still have been but for you, dearest, loveliest Elizabeth!… By you, I was properly humbled.”
(Speaker: Mr. Darcy, Chapter 58, Page 259)
Darcy’s candid confession to Elizabeth reveals the depth of his self-awareness and the transformative impact of her influence on his character. He acknowledges his lifelong “selfishness” and ingrained pride, crediting Elizabeth with humbling him and teaching him crucial lessons about his own behavior and its effect on others.
“I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.”
(Speaker: Mr. Darcy, Chapter 60, Page 266)
Darcy’s reflection on the gradual, almost imperceptible, development of his love for Elizabeth conveys its depth and sincerity. He cannot pinpoint a single initiating moment, suggesting their connection grew organically and profoundly despite initial societal and personal obstacles.
“You were disgusted with the women who were always speaking and looking, and thinking for your approbation alone. I roused, and interested you, because I was so unlike them.”
(Speaker: Elizabeth Bennet to Mr. Darcy, Chapter 60, Page 267)
Elizabeth astutely analyzes the foundation of Darcy’s initial attraction to her. She identifies her authenticity and refusal to engage in performative flattery (“so unlike them”) as the qualities that “roused and interested” him, contrasting her with women who sought only his “approbation.”
“I am the happiest creature in the world. Perhaps other people have said so before, but not one with such justice. I am happier even than Jane; she only smiles, I laugh.”
(Speaker: Elizabeth Bennet, Chapter 60, Page 269)
Elizabeth’s exuberant declaration of happiness, surpassing even her beloved sister Jane’s quieter joy, signifies the profound contentment and fulfillment she finds in her union with Darcy. Her laughter, contrasted with Jane’s smiles, highlights the vivacity and spirited nature of her deep satisfaction.
“For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbours, and laugh at them in our turn?”
(Speaker: Mr. Bennet, Chapter 57, Pages 253-254)
Mr. Bennet’s cynical yet humorous observation encapsulates his detached amusement at the societal follies surrounding him. He views life as a reciprocal comedy where individuals inevitably entertain each other, a philosophy that informs his often passive but witty approach to his family’s dramas and his neighbors’ pretensions.
“An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents. Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do.”
(Speaker: Mr. Bennet, Chapter 20, Page 110)
Mr. Bennet’s seemingly dire ultimatum to Elizabeth regarding Mr. Collins’s proposal is a masterstroke of dry wit and subtle support. By humorously framing the choice as alienation from one parent or the other, he cleverly sides with Elizabeth’s refusal while mockingly highlighting Mrs. Bennet’s absurd and relentless insistence on the match.
“Affectation of candour is common enough… But to be candid without ostentation or design… belongs to you alone.”
(Speaker: Elizabeth Bennet to Jane Bennet, Chapter 4, Page 17)
Elizabeth praises Jane’s genuine sincerity, contrasting it with the prevalent “affectation of candour.” This highlights her admiration for Jane’s pure goodness and her own ability to discern true virtue from mere social performance, a key aspect of her judgment.
“Kitty has no discretion in her coughs,” said her father; “she times them ill.”
(Speaker: Mr. Bennet, Chapter 2, Page 8)
This brief, cutting remark from Mr. Bennet about his daughter Kitty perfectly illustrates his dry wit and sardonic observational style. It dismisses Kitty’s (and by implication, Mrs. Bennet’s) minor social infractions with an air of resigned amusement rather than paternal concern.
“I admire all my three sons-in-law highly,” said he. “Wickham, perhaps, is my favourite; but I think I shall like your husband quite as well as Jane’s.”
(Speaker: Mr. Bennet, Chapter 60, Page 266)
Mr. Bennet’s final, ironic assessment of his sons-in-law retains his characteristic wit to the end. His mock preference for the scoundrel Wickham is a playful jab at past anxieties, while his genuine approval of Darcy and Bingley signals his ultimate satisfaction with his daughters’ happiness and security.
Conclusion: The Enduring Power of Pride, Prejudice, and Love
Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice remains a literary treasure, its enduring appeal rooted in its witty exploration of timeless human foibles and the transformative journey towards love and self-understanding.
These 45 quotes offer a glimpse into the intricate social dynamics, sharp characterizations, and profound insights that define this beloved classic.
From the iconic opening line about marriage and fortune to Elizabeth Bennet’s spirited defiance and Mr. Darcy’s gradual humbling, Austen’s words dissect the complexities of pride, the blindness of prejudice, and the enduring power of genuine affection to overcome societal barriers.
The novel’s commentary on class, family, and the quest for a compatible partner continues to resonate, reminding us that true happiness often requires looking beyond first impressions and societal expectations to recognize the worth within.
A Note on Page Numbers & Edition:
Like navigating the Meryton assembly, finding the exact page for a quote can depend on the edition! These page numbers reference the Penguin Classics (December 31, 2002) paperback edition (ISBN-13: 978-0141439518). Always consult your specific copy to ensure accuracy for your citations and deeper study.
Jeremy Mortis, founder of Ageless Investing, applies a rigorous analytical approach (the AAM framework) to distill timeless wisdom and contextualized quotes from classic literature, saving you time while deepening understanding. Learn more about Jeremy’s unique background and methodology on his author bio page.
What chapter is the quote “ I am determined that only the deepest love will induce me into matrimony. So… I shall end an old maid, and teach your ten children to embroider cushions and play their instruments very ill.”?
Hi Angel, I haven’t found that passage in the book yet. Is it possibly from a Pride and Prejudice movie? Thank you!