Pride and Prejudice quotes, explained for kids
Pride and Prejudice has some of the most quoted lines in English, starting with its famous first sentence. Many of them are jokes, because Jane Austen loved to poke fun at silly, proud or nosy people. With a 6–9 year old, read a line aloud, ask who is speaking and how they feel, and then talk about whether they are being fair. The lines are short enough to remember and make great starting points for chats about first impressions, kindness and changing your mind.
Every line is quoted word for word from the original 1813 novel by Jane Austen.
Quote 1: “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.”
Narrator, the very first line of the book, just before Mrs. Bennet hears that a rich young man has moved in nearby What it means: It is a joke. The narrator pretends “everyone knows” a rich single man wants a wife, but really it is the neighbors, like Mrs. Bennet, who want him to marry one of their daughters.
Ask your child: Is something true just because lots of people say it is?
Quote 2: “You have no compassion on my poor nerves.”
Mrs. Bennet, mrs. Bennet complains to her husband when he teases her about visiting the new neighbor What it means: Mrs. Bennet is saying, “You don’t care how upset I am!” She often talks about her “nerves” when she is worried or wants her own way.
Ask your child: What do you do when you feel worried or upset, and how can others help?
Quote 3: “She is tolerable: but not handsome enough to tempt me”
Mr. Darcy, at the first ball, Mr. Bingley suggests that Darcy dance with Elizabeth, and Elizabeth overhears his answer What it means: Darcy is saying Elizabeth is just “okay” and not pretty enough for him to dance with. It is a rude thing to say, and it gives Elizabeth a very bad first impression of him.
Ask your child: How would you feel if you overheard someone say something unkind about you?
Quote 4: “I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine.”
Elizabeth Bennet, elizabeth talks with her family and friends about Darcy the day after the ball What it means: Elizabeth means she would not mind Darcy being proud if he had not hurt her own feelings. “Mortified” means embarrassed or hurt.
Ask your child: Is it harder to forgive someone when they have hurt your feelings? Why?
Quote 5: “I declare, after all, there is no enjoyment like reading!”
Caroline Bingley, miss Bingley pretends to enjoy a book at Netherfield so she can impress Mr. Darcy, who is reading What it means: She says nothing is as fun as reading, but she is not really reading at all. She only wants Darcy to notice her, and she yawns and puts the book down soon after.
Ask your child: Have you ever pretended to like something to impress someone? What happened?
Quote 6: “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.”
Mr. Darcy, darcy surprises Elizabeth with a visit while she is staying in Kent What it means: Darcy is saying he tried hard to stop his feelings but couldn’t, and he loves her very much. “Ardently” means with lots of strong feeling.
Ask your child: Why do you think Elizabeth is so surprised to hear this?
Quote 7: “Till this moment, I never knew myself.”
Elizabeth Bennet, elizabeth reads a long letter from Darcy and realizes she has misjudged people What it means: Elizabeth sees that she was wrong about some people because she trusted her first impressions too much. She feels she is only now seeing herself clearly.
Ask your child: Have you ever found out you were wrong about someone? How did it feel?
Quote 8: “I am only resolved to act in that manner, which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness”
Elizabeth Bennet, the grand Lady Catherine de Bourgh visits Longbourn and tries to boss Elizabeth into making a promise What it means: Elizabeth politely refuses to be bossed around. She says she will make her own choices about what will make her happy.
Ask your child: When is it right to stand up for yourself, even to a grown-up who is very important?
Quote 9: “For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbours, and laugh at them in our turn?”
Mr. Bennet, mr. Bennet laughs about a letter full of gossip and reads it to Elizabeth What it means: Mr. Bennet jokes that life is all about being laughed at by your neighbors and laughing back at them. He loves a joke, sometimes a bit too much.
Ask your child: Is it kind to laugh at other people? When is laughing together fun, and when can it hurt?
Quote 10: “I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.”
Mr. Darcy, near the end, Elizabeth asks Darcy when he first started to like her What it means: Darcy means his feelings grew so slowly that he did not notice them starting. By the time he noticed, he already cared about her a lot.
Ask your child: Can you remember how one of your friendships started? Did it happen all at once or slowly?
Questions about Pride and Prejudice quotes
- What is the most famous quote from Pride and Prejudice?
- The first line: “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” It is one of the best-known opening lines of any novel.
- Who said “not handsome enough to tempt me”?
- Mr. Darcy says it about Elizabeth Bennet at the first ball in Meryton. Elizabeth overhears him, and it is the start of her dislike for him.
- Is “You have bewitched me, body and soul” in the book?
- No. That line is from the 2005 film with Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen. In the book, Darcy’s words are different and much quieter.
- What does “a truth universally acknowledged” mean?
- It means “something everybody agrees is true.” Jane Austen is teasing, because the “truth” is really just what busy neighbors like Mrs. Bennet want to believe.