Recently I finished the book Emma, which was beautifully done. After Pride and Prejudice, it is my favorite of Austen’s work! And of course, the movie was just fabulous (someone, take me to a regency era ball right away). But I digress, this is a post about how her quotes can be applied to the world of writing and reading; I may slightly bend them out of their context but they work nonetheless as wonderful inspiration. And now I sound like I myself am from the 1800s. Go figure.

FOR WRITING:

“Obstinate, headstrong girl!” — oppose the natural order of the writing world and write what you want to see, not what you think the readers want. helps if you ruffle some feathers along the way, including those who don’t view your craft in the same way you do. be bold!

“Indulge your imagination in every possible flight.” — easy enough to interpret; allow your imagination to take you to whimsical places! sometimes the best inspiration can come from unexpected sources.

“Laugh as much as you choose, but you will not laugh me out of my opinion.” — we all know someone who has discouraged us in the past or continues to do so when the topic of our writing dream is broached. shake it off, friend! they may not understand, and they might even laugh at your aspirations, but as long as you believe in yourself, you’ll be fine. may Jane Austen be with you in these difficult times.

“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.” — call upon Lizzie Bennet’s brave words when you are feeling disheartened during your writing journey! especially that last sentence. 10/10 for inspiration.

“Till this moment I never knew myself.” — writing is all about exploring the depths in humanity, but also in yourself. when you write, you should be connecting with the characters, whether you have experienced what they are going through or not. have yourself a little epiphany like Lizzie did here.

“Let us never underestimate the power of a well-written letter.” — Jane loved her letters. if she did not explicitly feature one in the book, it was most definitely discussed at length by the characters. in modern, day, this could mean a plethora of things… but above all, it emphasizes the importance of communication in your stories. or perhaps the lack thereof as a conflict.

FOR READING:

“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.”

“The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.”

“It is only a novel… or, in short, only some work in which the greatest powers of the mind are displayed, in which the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit and humour, are conveyed to the world in the best-chosen language.”

“A fondness for reading, which, properly directed, must be an education in itself.”

“If a book is well-written, I find it too short.”

And some of my favorite iconic lines, with commentary:

“In vain have I 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.” (Darcy, you have my heart forever)

“If I loved you any less, I might be able to talk more about it.” (Knightley, you too)

“Life seems but a quick succession of busy nothings.” (Too real)

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” (Iconic though)

“She was convinced that she could have been happy with him, when it was no longer likely they should meet.” (Utterly destroy my soul, why don’t you)

“I may have lost my heart, but not my self-control.” (Emma, the queen)

“I wish, as well as everybody else, to be perfectly happy; but, like everybody else, it must be in my own way.” (Wise words, wise words indeed)

So that’s it! I hope this put some pep in your step today. Any other quotes you love?