Emma by Jane Austen was published on December 23, 1815. Much of the novel revolves around love with Emma’s well-intended but disastrous matchmaking attempts and people finding genuine love and happiness despite her. This premise resulted in many wonderful quotes about love and happiness, several of which are below.
Love
Love is complicated, and it only gets worse with Emma’s matchmaking. Still, everyone — somehow — finds their perfect match regardless.
If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more.
Jane Austen, Emma
I lay it down as a general rule, Harriet, that if a woman doubts as to whether she should accept a man or not, she certainly ought to refuse him.
Jane Austen, Emma
A woman is not to marry a man merely because she is asked, or because he is attached to her, and can write a tolerable letter.
Jane Austen, Emma
I certainly will not persuade myself to feel more than I do. I am quite enough in love. I should be sorry to be more.
Jane Austen, Emma
Then I examined my own heart. And there you were. Never, I fear, to be removed.
Jane Austen, Emma
Happiness
Emma puts her own happiness above other people’s, and she doesn’t settle for anything less than what she deserves. (As she should.) But she also wants other people to be happy — though her attempts are misguided — and she encourages others to do what she thinks is in their best interest.
You must be the best judge of your own happiness.
Jane Austen, Emma
How often is happiness destroyed by preparation, foolish preparation!
Jane Austen, Emma
I always deserve the best treatment because I never put up with any other.
Jane Austen, Emma
I do suspect that he is not really necessary to my happiness.
Jane Austen, Emma
She was happy, she knew she was happy, and knew she ought to be happy.
Jane Austen, Emma
Emma is full of amazing quotes, so it was hard to choose which ones to add. Which one was your favorite?
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