“Sir Walter Elliot, of Keyynch-hall, in Somersetshire, was a man who, for his own amusement, never took up any book but the Baronetage…” Chapter 1

“He considered the blessing of beauty as inferior only to the blessing of a baronetcy…” Chapter 1

“Mary had acquired a little artificial importance by becoming Mrs. Musgrove; but Anne, with an elegance of mind and sweetness of character, which must have placed her high with any people of real understanding, was nobody with either father or sister: her word had no weight; her convenience was always to give way– she was only Anne” Chapter 1

“’Can we retrench? does it occur to you that there is any one article in which we can retrench?’” Sir Walter Elliot Chapter 1

“’We must be serious and decided – for, after all, the person who has contracted debts must pay them…’” Lady Russell Chapter 2

“She [Anne] disliked Bath…and Bath was to be her home.” Chapter 2

“’Secondly [being a sailor] cuts up a man’s youth and vigour most horribly; a sailor grows old sooner than any other man; I have observed it all my life’” [Sir Walter, later going on to describe the man who was 40 who he thought was 60] Chapter 3

“A lady, without a family, was the very best preserver of furnture in the world.” Chapter 3

“Lady Russell had little taste for wit; and of any thing approaching to imprudence a horror. She deprecated the connection in every light.” Chapter 4

“Had she not imagined herself consulting his good, even more than her own, she could hardly have given him up.—The belief of being prudent, and self-denying principally for his advantage, was her chief consolation, under the misery of a parting– a final parting…” Chapter 4

“She had been solicited, when about two-and-twenty, to change her name, by the young man, who not long afterwards found a more willing mind in her younger sister; and Lady Russell had lamented her refusal…” Chapter 4

“She [Anne for her breaking her engagement] did not blame Lady Russell, she did not blame herself for having been guided by her; but she felt that were any young person, in similar circumstances, to apply to her for counsel, they would never receive any of such certain immediate wretchedness, such uncertain future good.” Chapter 4

“She [Anne] had been forced into prudence in her youth, she learned romance as she grew older – the natural sequel of an unnatural beginning.” Chapter 4

“Lady Russell, convinced that Anne would not be allowed to be of any use, or any importance, in the choice of the house…” Chapter 5

“’I cannot possible do without Anne,’ was Mary’s reasoning; and Elizabeth’s reply was “Then I am sure Anne had better stay, for nobody will want her in Bath.” Chapter 5

“I think very differently [than Anne], answered Elizabeth, shortly “an agreeable manner may set off handsome features, but can never alter plain ones.” Chapter 5

“The Musgroves, like their houses, were in a state of alteration, perhaps improvement.” Chapter 5

(on Charles Musgrove) “a woman of real understanding might have given more consequence to his character, and more usefulness, rationality, and elegance to his habits and pursuits.” Chapter 6

“One of the least agreeable circumstances of her residence there, was her being treated with too much confidence by all parties, and being too much in the secret of the complaints of each house.” (emphasis mine) Chapter 6

(speaking about her piano-forte playing – and perhaps more) “she had never, since the age of fourteen, never since the loss of her dear mother, known the happiness of being listened to.” Chapter 6

(on her playing) “ Lord bless me! How those little fingers of yours fly about!” Chapter 6

(on her playing) “ Lord bless me! How those little fingers of yours fly about!” Chapter 6

“the Musgroves had had the ill fortune of a very troublesome, hopeless son; and the good fortune to lose him before he reached his twentieth year” Chapter 6