Jane Austen

I often marvel at how heavy history can be, because much of it must be pure invention.

I have been a selfish being all my life, not in theory, but in practice.

The happiness in marriage depends entirely on luck.

As is known, businesses can make money, but friendship rarely does.

Nobody complains about having what they don't deserve.

Half of the world cannot understand the pleasures of the other half.

I don't want people to be too nice, as it saves me the trouble of having to like them too much.

I don't mind walking. There are no distances when you have a reason.

The vanity and pride are very different things, although both words are often taken as synonymous. A person can be proud without being vain. Pride refers more to our opinion of ourselves; vanity, to what others may think of us.

The impulses of feeling should be guided by reason.