Pride and Prejudice Quotes: The Lines That Still Draw Blood (And Make Us Laugh)
Pride and Prejudice is one of those novels that refuses to stay politely in the past. It was first published in 1813, yet people still highlight its lines on Kindle, embroider them on tote bags, and quote them in wedding vows and break-up texts alike.
This guide gathers some of the sharpest, funniest, and most quietly savage Pride and Prejudice quotes, with quick meanings, context, and ways to use them in book clubs or everyday life.
Quick answers: the Pride and Prejudice quote questions everyone is asking
What is the most famous line from Pride and Prejudice?
The most famous line is the opening sentence:
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
It sounds like a grand rule of life, and then the book immediately shows us a town full of families who are actually in want of the man and his fortune, not the other way around. The “universal truth” is a joke before we even leave chapter one.
What is Mr Darcy’s most famous love quote?
From the first proposal scene:
“You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”
It is dramatic, needy, and a bit smug, which is exactly where Darcy is at that point in the story.
Is “You have bewitched me, body and soul” actually in the book?
No. That line belongs to the 2005 film script, not Austen’s novel, even though it gets plastered on prints and quote boards as if it came from the original text.
Who is the real “heroine” of these quotes?
Most of the best Pride and Prejudice quotes are either spoken by or wrapped around Elizabeth Bennet. She is the classic Jane Austen heroine: clever, observant, stubborn, and allergic to nonsense.
How this guide is organised
I did not want to throw a wall of quotes at you and call it a day. The top search results for “Pride and Prejudice quotes” already do that, usually in long lists grouped by “love,” “marriage,” “family,” and so on, with little context attached.
Here, I:
Group quotes by theme that actually matters for readers and book clubs: first impressions, class and money, self-knowledge, romance, and reading.
Add short context and a simple way to use each quote: in discussion, journaling, or even on gifts.
Flag one or two misquoted or misattributed “Pride and Prejudice” lines so you don’t fall into the internet trap.
If you want quotes from across all Austen’s novels, you can pair this with the our broader Jane Austen quotes article and treat this piece as the Pride and Prejudice deep dive.
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First impressions and “universal truths”
These are the lines that set the tone for the whole book: sharp, witty, and slightly cruel.
1. “It is a truth universally acknowledged…”
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
This line invites you to nod along, then quietly makes you the joke for accepting it so quickly. Austen is already poking fun at social assumptions, and the rest of the chapter shows how families chase the rich man like he’s a prize cow at auction.
Use it for:
Opening a book club meeting on Pride and Prejudice. Ask everyone: What “truths” about dating or marriage do people still repeat today that feel just as ridiculous?
A caption for a photo of your TBR stack of classic romances.
2. “I could easily forgive his pride…”
“I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine.”
Elizabeth lands this during an early talk about Darcy. It is honest and self-aware, but it also shows how much her own pride drives the plot. The book’s title is not exactly subtle.
3. “She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me.”
Darcy’s first real line about Elizabeth is brutal and heard by her, which makes it worse.
Why it matters:
It perfectly captures how first impressions can be both shallow and deeply wounding.
Their whole romance has to crawl out from under this sentence.
For a broader look at first impressions, status, and dark desire in Victorian fiction, you might enjoy the our Picture of Dorian Gray summary and themes guide, which asks similar questions but with a much bloodier mirror.
Pride, vanity, and self-knowledge
Top quote lists usually group these under “Pride vs vanity” and leave it there. Let’s go a little further.
4. “Vanity and pride are different things…”
“Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. 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.”
This is Mary’s moment of clarity at a party, and it lands harder the more you reread the book. Darcy is drowning in both. Elizabeth has more pride than she admits.
Book club angle:
Ask: Which character is more guilty of vanity than pride? Lydia? Mr Collins? Even Mrs Bennet?
Compare this quote with Wilde’s preface to The Picture of Dorian Gray if your group likes pairing classics from different eras.
5. “Till this moment, I never knew myself.”
Elizabeth says this after reading Darcy’s letter and finally seeing the full picture about Wickham and her own prejudice.
This is one of the key lines of the novel, and top quote roundups often highlight it under “personal growth” or “self-reflection.”
Why it still works:
Everyone knows the feeling of suddenly realising you misread a person or situation completely.
It shows that Austen cares less about romantic destiny and more about whether her characters can admit they were wrong.
6. “My good opinion once lost, is lost forever.”
Darcy, at his most rigid.
Later, he proves himself wrong by changing his view of Elizabeth and her family, which is one quiet way the book argues that people can grow past their own proud statements.
Pride & Prejudice quote guide
- Most famous line: “It is a truth universally acknowledged...”
- Most quoted love confession: “You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”
- Key theme quote: “Vanity and pride are different things...”
- Best self-drag: “Till this moment, I never knew myself.”
- Most misattributed line: “You have bewitched me, body and soul” (from the 2005 film, not the novel).
Elizabeth Bennet: wit, independence, and refusal to be managed
If you are searching for “Pride and Prejudice quotes” because you love Elizabeth, you are in the right company.
7. “There is a stubbornness about me…”
“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.”
This is Elizabeth in one sentence. It also explains why she clashes with Darcy, Lady Catherine, and, frankly, half the room whenever she walks into a party.
Use it for:
Talking about Jane Austen heroines who refuse to sit quietly and accept what they are told.
A journal prompt: When did my courage rise instead of shrinking back?
If you like this side of Austen, you might enjoy the broader Jane Austen quotes article on the site, which pulls lines from her other heroines as well.
8. “I am only resolved to act in that manner…”
“I am only resolved to act in that manner, which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness, without reference to you, or to any person so wholly unconnected with me.”
Elizabeth says this to Lady Catherine near the end of the novel, and it is one of the most quietly rebellious lines in the book. She insists on defining her own happiness, regardless of rank or threats.
9. “He is a gentleman, and I am a gentleman’s daughter…”
“He is a gentleman, and I am a gentleman’s daughter. So far we are equal.”
This is Elizabeth refusing to let Darcy’s wealth scare her off. Socially, he outranks her family by quite a bit; she still insists on moral and personal equality.
Book club prompt:
Ask: Where do Elizabeth’s lines sound like they belong in a modern romance novel, and where do they feel rooted firmly in Regency England?
Darcy’s love quotes: romantic, messy, and not always flattering
Search results tend to throw every Darcy line into a long “romantic quotes” list, sometimes with zero context.
Let’s separate the swoony from the slightly alarming.
10. “In vain have I struggled…”
“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.”
This is the first proposal. Romantic? Yes. Also full of condescension about her family, which she quite reasonably rejects.
How to talk about it in a group:
Split the quote into two halves.
The heartfelt confession.
The rude explanation of why her family is beneath him.
Ask: Would you accept this proposal in real life, or would you send him home to rethink his entire personality?
11. The second proposal and changed man
The second proposal scene is less quotable in a single line, but it matters more. Darcy listens, helps, and apologises rather than performing a dramatic speech. The romance works because his actions finally match the weight of his earlier words.
When you put both proposals side by side, you have an easy structure for a book club chat about what real change looks like in a romantic lead.
Love, marriage, and people who absolutely should not give relationship advice
A lot of popular lists focus only on dreamy lines. Austen gives us those, but she also gives us some of the driest relationship commentary you will ever read.
12. “I am not a romantic, you know…”
Charlotte Lucas on why she accepts Mr Collins:
“I am not a romantic, you know. I never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins’s character, connections, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state.”
She is painfully honest about the economic game behind marriage.
13. “Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance.”
Charlotte again, cutting through all the sentimental fog.
Book club angle:
Ask everyone to pick a line from Charlotte and a line from Elizabeth, then answer: Whose view of marriage feels closer to your own, and why?
14. “A lady’s imagination is very rapid…”
“A lady’s imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment.”
Darcy says this with a mix of teasing and sarcasm. Today it reads like a meme about “planning the wedding after one good date.”
Use in life:
Perfect for a playful caption when you fall in love with someone’s Goodreads account, not necessarily the person.
Family, small talk, and Austen being a bit mean on purpose
One thing the big quote roundups sometimes flatten is how funny this book is. Austen is merciless with her side characters.
15. “For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbours…”
“For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbours, and laugh at them in our turn?”
Mr Bennet lives for this kind of line. It is both funny and slightly bleak, which is a decent summary of his parenting style.
16. “Follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies do divert me…”
Elizabeth, explaining why ridiculous people entertain her.
Together, these quotes show a world where everyone is constantly watching and judging everyone else, sometimes with love, sometimes with spite, usually with a cup of tea nearby.
If you enjoy this mix of humour and sharpness, you might like the site’s list of 25 famous book quotes, which pulls similarly punchy lines from a range of classics, including Pride and Prejudice.
Quotes about books, reading, and the life of a reader
Since you are here, I am going to guess you care about books as more than decorative objects. Austen has some lines for that too.
17. “I declare after all there is no enjoyment like 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.”
Here is the twist: this line comes from Caroline Bingley, who is pretending to care about Darcy’s book so he will look at her. Austen gives a sentence that every bookworm wants to claim, and then puts it in the mouth of one of the most insincere people in the room.
How to use it without the irony problem:
Mention, if you quote it on social media or in a blog post, that Caroline is faking it, which makes the line funnier rather than flatter.
18. “The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel…”
“The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.”
Mr Bennet says this. It is snobbish and a little rude, and readers have loved it for two centuries for exactly that reason.
If you are building a classics shelf or looking for your next “serious” read, you can jump to the site’s 30 classic books to read at least once list, where Pride and Prejudice appears alongside other heavy hitters.
Quotes by theme
First impressions: “It is a truth universally acknowledged…”, “She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me.”
Pride and vanity: “Vanity and pride are different things…”, “Till this moment, I never knew myself.”
Love and marriage: “In vain have I struggled…”, “Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance.”
Independence: “There is a stubbornness about me…”, “He is a gentleman, and I am a gentleman’s daughter.”
Reading life: “There is no enjoyment like reading…”, “The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel…”
How to use Pride and Prejudice quotes in your reading life
A lot of readers land on quote pages because they need something specific:
a line for wedding vows or speech
a caption for a photo
a spark for book club discussion
or a gift idea for the Austen fan in their life
Here are a few practical ways to put these lines to work.
For book clubs
Start your meeting by reading the “truth universally acknowledged” line out loud and asking each person to bring a modern “universal truth” they do not actually believe.
Pair Elizabeth’s stubbornness quote with a character from another classic, such as Dorian Gray or Anna Karenina, and compare how each responds to social pressure.
If you want ready-made prompts for lots of different books, the site’s Book Club Discussion Questions article can become your go-to toolkit.
For highlights, Kindle notes, and digital reading
If you read Pride and Prejudice on Kindle, you probably already found the underlined sections where thousands of readers have highlighted the same sentence.
To turn those into gifts or shared experiences:
You can follow the How To Gift a Kindle Book in 2025 guide and send a favourite edition of Pride and Prejudice to a friend, then read and highlight together.
Pick one or two quotes each, compare which lines you chose, and see whether you gravitate toward the romantic, the sarcastic, or the quietly cynical.
For audiobooks and listening together
Some quotes hit differently when you hear a narrator speak them.
If your group prefers audio, or you want to give an Austen fan an audiobook as a gift, the How To Gift An Audible Book In 2025 guide walks through that process without trying to confuse you with hidden settings.
You can listen to the same production, then compare how the narrator handles Darcy’s first proposal or Mr Bennet’s dry comments.
For gifts, prints, and quiet bookish bribery
Quotes from Pride and Prejudice work perfectly on:
art prints for reading corners
bookmarks
mugs for your book club host
matching tote bags for Austen-obsessed friends
If you are in the mood to actually shop rather than just daydream, our book lover gifts guides round up practical gifts that go beyond the usual “here is another candle and yet another generic mug” territory. They often feature Jane Austen sets, literary prints, and other pieces that pair well with the quotes in this article.
FAQ
What is the first line of Pride and Prejudice?
The first line is:
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
It introduces the book’s interest in money, marriage, and social expectations in one neat sentence.
What is the main message behind the quotes about pride and vanity?
The quotes about pride and vanity show that:
Pride is about how you see yourself.
Vanity is about how you want others to see you.
Characters who cling to either without self-reflection, like early Darcy or Lydia, cause trouble for themselves and others. Characters who learn to check their own bias, like Elizabeth, get a better ending.
What is the most romantic quote in Pride and Prejudice?
Most readers pick Darcy’s confession:
“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.”
It combines vulnerability, desperation, and a touch of melodrama. Just remember that Elizabeth says no to this speech the first time around, because romance without respect is not enough.
Are there any Pride and Prejudice quotes that are often misattributed?
Yes. Two big ones:
“You have bewitched me, body and soul” comes from the 2005 film, not from Austen’s text.
A line often written as “I must learn to be content with being happier than I deserve” actually comes from Emma or Persuasion in slightly different form, not from Pride and Prejudice, even though quote lists sometimes mislabel it.
When you build graphics or social posts, it is worth double-checking whether a line is really in the novel.
What are some short Pride and Prejudice quotes that work well for captions?
A few that travel well:
“Angry people are not always wise.”
“We are all fools in love.”
“What are men to rocks and mountains?”
“My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me.”
Each one fits neatly into a graphic, journal margin, or smug little text to a friend.
How do these quotes show Elizabeth Bennet as a Jane Austen heroine?
Her lines reveal:
a sharp eye for nonsense
a refusal to marry for money alone
an ability to admit when she is wrong
Together, those traits place her firmly in Austen’s gallery of heroines who would get along very well with modern readers who insist on both love and self-respect.
If you want a broader view of how Austen writes women who push against their world, the Jane Austen quotes article brings in Emma, Anne Elliot, and others for comparison.
If you like this kind of close look at quotes with context, you can keep the classics streak going with our 30 classic books to read at least once list, or jump sideways into moral chaos with The Picture of Dorian Gray. Pride and Prejudice may end in dances and weddings; Wilde will happily drag you into darker rooms and make you look at the portrait on the wall.
Pride and Prejudice, first published in 1813, follows Elizabeth Bennet as she moves through family drama, a ruthless marriage market, and a very awkward first impression of Mr Darcy. Her prejudice meets his pride, both of them misjudge each other and almost everyone else, and the story tracks how they slowly correct their own views. Only once they see themselves and each other more clearly do they reach anything like a happy ending.