Jane Austen for Everyday
One of the things I like best about Jane Austen is how very quotable she is. It helps, of course, that my husband has seen (and liked!) all the adaptations, and that my children have been raised to think of Jane Austen as a member of the family, albeit in a distant-cousinish sort of way. (Their idea of fun is to get dressed up and stage a ball for themselves, or to get me to quiz them on their knowledge of characters from the various novels. There’s nothing to worry about in that, is there?) Nothing inspires quotation like being around people who “get it.” Whether quoting Austen’s books or their film adaptations, there are quotes to suit any occasion.
For example, when I had three children aged three and under who all wanted to sit on my lap, I was frequently heard to say, “My dear, you tumble my gown.” And I still say, when they boys are sword fighting in the house, “You have no compassion on my poor nerves!”
When illness strikes, it is always appropriate to murmur, “I am so ill I can hardly speak.”
“Happy thought indeed!” and “I am all astonishment!” are wonderful exclamations to use when your four year old has the idea of putting all her toys away or drawing you a picture of a dinosaur. Even better is when she starts saying those phrases to friends and acquaintances. You get the reputation of being a very literate family. And a little odd.
My husband and I also frequently have the following exchange when I check the emails:
Me: Are there any messages, sweetheart?
Him: None
Me: No message at all, no cards?
Him: None, Ma’am!
Sometimes the quotes that come to mind are a little disconcerting; when I sprained my ankle the first thought I had was “A lame carriage horse threw everything into confusion.” Yes, yes, I ought to have thought of poor Marianne Dashwood’s injury. What does it say about me that my first identification was with the horse?
In late spring I always think “Though May, a fire in the evening is still very pleasant.” As a Californian transplanted to Ireland, I’m always puzzled that the Westons and their friends could have found this surprising enough to remark on. To my mind, the British Isles are always cool enough for a fire in the evening, no matter what the time of year!
I have a friend whose family custom is to utter, “Napkin, sorry!” whenever they forget an item—car keys, a book, or a piece of mail.
There are a few quotes I haven’t yet had the courage to use with people outside the family. But I’m panting to use “Did I mention we are having a new drain installed?” when I want to change the subject. Or when speaking of a female bossy-boots I could say, “She is a vicountess!” I don’t really give myself any credit for exclaiming “Pork!” at the supermarket, but I will feel very smug indeed if I can find a way to work “Fix, commit, condemn yourself!” into a conversation.
You see how useful Jane Austen can be? A thorough knowledge of her works means that you will never be at a loss for words. Or if you are, you can always fall back on “It left me speechless, quite speechless, I tell you, and I have not stopped talking of it since.”
Please share: What Jane Austen quotes do you find yourself using all the time?
Barbara Cornthwaite is the author of George Knightley, Esquire: Charity Envieth Not. Her new book, George Knightley, Esquire: Lend Me Leave, will be released August 25!
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Lol, ok I have the must stupid one that I and a friend use
make haste, make haste! Which is yes I know silly
Okay, I must admit that I use the phrase “Pray, tell” or 2Pray, continue” quite often and I dream about future children calling me “Mama”
I haven’t really used Jane quotes in talking, but I love to quote her in writing. Such as “It is a truth universally acknowledged…” it’s kind of fun to come up with fillers for that!
Barbara, your sense of humor and that of your family has me smiling. My daughter, who is seven, loves Jane Austen movies and often pretends to be Elizabeth Bennet. She recently informed me while back-to-school shopping, that she needed a “new pair of slippers for the ball”, as she had nothing to wear with her gowns. Hmm…that attitude sounds much more like Lydia, though. Perhaps I ought to worry…
I very much enjoyed your post. If only my CIO Magazine/Business Week reading husband would quote Jane Austen to me… 🙂
Best,
Susan
Mine would be “I am all astonishment” and “make haste”. Also when sick I have been known to say “I am so ill, I can hardly speak”. Mary Musgrove, bless her!
Lovely post Barbara! I am with Susan. If only my husband could put down is work-related reading and quote me some Jane Austen! 😉 It sure sounds like you and your family have a lot of fun!
LOL! So true–love Jane Austen’s quotability. My family loves to quote Darcy’s first failed proposal…I don’t know why. But it’s hilarious to see my dad try and play the part of Darcy. 🙂
I like the idea of your kids dressing up in period costumes and holding balls 🙂
It is also really fun spouting out quotes as everyday responses in conversation. I used a formal phrase once and got strange looks from my friends who clearly don’t appreciate such beautiful language 😛
I don’t spout JA quotes but I have some favourites like: You have no compassion on my poor nerves!, I am all astonishment!, Did I mention we are having a new drain installed? and She is a vicountess!. These are really picked out from this blog entry 🙂
I have been known to say “insufferable presumption!” and “this is not to be borne!” on occasion. Or “dear me! I shall go distracted!” or “have you no compassion on my poor nerves?” Once, a coworker that I was training asked if I was angry with her and I couldn’t resist saying “my good opinion, once lost, is lost forever.” She just gave me this “ohh-kaaay…” look.
I think it’s great that your kids are so into Austen. I also love the quote about being speechless. It’s so me.
I have two little ones at home and I find myself saying “make haste” quite a bit!! :o)
“I dearly love to laugh” / “you have no compassion on my nerves”
WE are a household of quoters. Movies particularly, but lines from literary adaptations make appearances as well. When Hubby and I are talking, “If that gives you comfort,” is the most notable. Particularly if we are dreaming about good political outcomes in elections.
“My courage always rises with every attempt to intimidate me” and “I am all astonishment” are my faves.
My daughters have been know to say… “pork, Mother!” This usually leads to a Jane Austen movie marathon.
I surely wish my family was like this. None of them share my interest. However I still use several of the quotes mentioned above. Especially “make haste” and “you have no compassion for my poor nerves”.
This is the cutest ever, and just how I hope my future family will be! Not just quoting Austen, though, some Tolkien would be heard as well. 😉
I am quite new to Austen, and haven’t yet found myself quoting her. But in time I will!
Loved reading about your family’s quoting JA! My hubby would never quote it back to me, but my 22-yr. old daughter & I quote enough of it for everyone within earshot! LOL She & I are always quoting our favorite JA lines, and other lines from many of our favorite movies. I loved your daughter’s comments about needing new slippers!! LOVE it!! 🙂
Some of my favorites, which do include some as mentioned above, from JA are:
“Make haste”
“Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted?”
“What excellent boiled potatoes”
“Oh! I am delighted with the book!”
“That would be most inconvenient…”
well, Barbara, your spotlight has ‘left me speechless, quite speechless, I tell you,”!!
thank you for the FuN post “))
Your family sounds delightful! In our house my husband occasionally spouts Shakesperean curses…
Unfortunately my family and friends are not quite so tolerant as to quietly take my quoting Austen (although my husband has watched most adaptations with my…once), but I do find myself using ‘indeed’ often. Many of my favorite quotes have been mentioned several times. “I shall go distracted.” “This is not to be borne.”
My whole family has caught my Austen-mania, and we have a lot of fun tossing quotes around (namely from the movies, since I’m the only one compulsively reading the books)…”Badly done, [whomever], badly done” and “Things to do, things to do” are two favorites, as well as “My good opinion once lost is lost forever” and “What would Lady Catherine think?!” haha
Huzzah for the “weird ones” ;o)
Your post is positively adorable! I don’t quote Jane Austen very often when speaking, but I frequently find myself writing or conversing in her style rather than her actual words. This occurs particularly often after reading one of her books or a variation thereof. (I also find myself speaking in a British accent after reading most British novels, which doesn’t go over at all well as I am American and my British accent is atrocious.)
I had to read this post and then go and think of how I use JA in everyday life. I do find myself using the ‘compassion for my poor nerves” especially in the hot and humid days of summer vacation. I also find myself channeling Emma and Mr. Knightley with “This will not do!” and “Very badly done, Emma. Very bad indeed!” but I have decided that these are from MOVIES and so maybe they don’t count as “authentic” Austen. I will go back and do “research” as I am reading Emma again in “preparation” for Barbara’s new book and when my family comes looking for me I will simply tell them that I am “fact checking”…. Jennifer
I very often find myself thinking it a very good proverb that when a woman has the advantage of knowing anything she should conceal it as best she can.
Oh, I have been known to use quotes from time to time when speaking. I don’t do it consciously though. It’s just that JA’s dialogue has a tendency to float around in my brain. I wouldn’t be surprised if I used any number of the ones already mentioned but just yesterday I’m certain I said ‘badly done’. ‘Indeed’ I use a lot!
But, how did I miss your other book Barbara?? Do you plan to continue posting at DWG? I hope so!
“It left me speechless, quite speechless, I tell you, and I have not stopped talking of it since.”
I watched Emma last night and that line always cracks my stuff up! I love to quote Pride and Prejudice– it’s my favorite 🙂
Delightful post! I have been known, on occasion, to be “most seriously displeased.”
I don’t normally use JA quotes in my conversation. But I like to use this phrase: “Think of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure“.
I always say “My good opinion once lost is lost forever” (you can ask my mother(monster) in law ha ha we no longer speak)
I actually don’t have any good jA quotations that i use, but I love you saying to your children “you tumble my gown.” And I can picture you children as 2nd generation Janeites. =) Also I live a tiny bit through all the Frequently Used Phrases on the Republic of Pemberley. This has inspired me to use my brain more and figure out how to incorporate JA phrases into my conversations!
I use the “if that gives you comfort” with my employees on occasion…LOL I also have done the “you should have a bowl of gruel” when someone is waxing eloquent on their maladies, and I have to admit my most oft used quote is “for what do we live for but to make sport of our neighbors?” LOL