Pride And Prejudice: 15 Most Memorable Quotes, Ranked

The 2005 film adaptation of this classic Jane Austen novel has brought Pride and Prejudice to a whole new demographic of audiences. Starring Keira Knightley, Rosamund Pike, Jena Malone, Judi Dench, Donald Sutherland, Matthew Macfadyen, and many others, Pride and Prejudice was a remarkably wonderful adaptation. Kiera Knightley in particular is widely remembered for her stunningly fresh portrayal of Elizabeth Bennet.

This period drama wasn’t as stilted and dreary as many period dramas. This romantic drama was able to connect with even the Netflix generation and is still widely watched and counted in major lists as one of the best romantic-dramas and period movies.

Updated on February 24th, 2021 by Kristen Palamara: Jane Austen’s works continue to be some of the most popular adaptations since their release in the early 1800s. Austen’s novels have stood the test of time as people read and reread her work for her prose and her universal plots and characters that are just as relevant now as they were in the 19th century. There have been several adaptations of Austen’s work, but one of the most popular adaptations is the 2005 Pride and Prejudice movie, from which we’ve taken another 5 unforgettable quotes for fans to cherish forever.

15 “What A Superbly Featured Room And What Excellent Boiled Potatoes! Many Years Since I’ve Had Such An Exemplary Vegetable.”

Mr. Collins is introduced to the Bennet family and the sisters and their father think he’s quite dull, doesn’t add much to the conversation, and isn’t the best suitor for any of the Bennet daughters, although Mrs. Bennet thinks he, and any well-to-do man really, would be a good match.

In this hilariously awkward line, Mr. Collins is way too excited about the state of the boiled potatoes at the dinner the Bennets have prepared for him and the rest of the table tries to hide their laughter after he delivers this line.

14 “I Do Not Have The Talent Of Conversing Easily With People I Have Never Met Before.”

It’s clear that Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy have completely different personalities as Elizabeth is able to easily talk to new people and make friends fairly quickly while Mr. Darcy has none of those skills. Mr. Darcy is able to build relationships over time, but he’s not very comfortable meeting a lot of new people at once.

It’s a feeling that many can relate to and Mr. Darcy is self-aware enough that he’s able to tell Elizabeth that he’s uncomfortable in a room full of people he doesn’t know.

13 “No, I Prefer To Be Unsociable And Taciturn. Makes It All So Much More Enjoyable, Don’t You Think?”

This is another line that proves how different Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy are especially in regards to their personality. Mr. Darcy has more of a bruting personality and doesn’t mind being on his own while Elizabeth is more friendly and enjoys talking to people.

The two often don’t see eye to eye and for most of the story they seem to be upset with each other because of their inherent differences, but of course, they truly fall in love by the end of the story. Elizabeth says this line as a sarcastic joke to Darcy.

12 “Your Selfish Disdain For The Feelings Of Others Made Me Realize You Were The Last Man In The World I Could Ever Be Prevailed Upon To Marry.”

Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet go through an odd courtship through most of the story as Elizabeth truly thinks Mr. Darcy hates her and everything he does is meant to hurt her. Mr. Darcy wonders to his friend Mr. Bingley if Elizabeth’s sister Jane is truly his best match.

Mr. Darcy’s interference ends up separated the happy couple and Elizabeth thinks that Mr. Darcy did this out of his hatred for her and her family. He reveals it was purely him trying to look out for his friend, but Elizabeth does not know this when she delivers this line to him.

11 “We Are All Fools In Love.”

The Bennet family’s friend Charlotte says this dream-like line at the ball where the Bennet sisters are attempting to find acceptable suitors.

Pride and Prejudice, like most of Austen’s work, has a great balance between romance, comedy, and drama and this is one of the most romantic lines in this adaptation that isn’t a quote from Mr. Darcy or Elizabeth Bennet. The line is instead from a character who wants to be romantic but understands she has to marry for status and comfort.

10 “Your Mother Will Never See You Again If You Do Not Marry Mr. Collins, And I Will Never See You Again If You Do.”

The Bennet family’s home and estate will be inherited by Mr. Collins after Mr. Bennet’s passing because he has no sons. In such a situation, Mrs. Bennet is especially anxious to make sure all her daughters are married and well-settled. And when Mr. Collins expresses an interest in Jane, Mrs. Bennet pushes it to Elizabeth because Jane could be potentially engaged to Mr. Bingley.

Mrs. Bennet thinks that the marriage between Elizabeth and Mr. Collins is in the best interest of the entire family but Elizabeth is strongly against it. Luckily, her father takes her side in the situation, being thoroughly unimpressed with Mr. Collins, and gives her the validation she needs to go against her mother.

9 “You Could Not Make Me Happy And I’m Convinced I’m The Last Person In This World Who Could Make You Happy.”

When Mr. Collins proposes marriage to Elizabeth, he doesn’t even give her a chance to reply. And when she turns him down, he makes it seem as though she’s doing it to appear modest, as girls are supposed to do.

But Elizabeth puts the nail in the coffin with these lines. They may be harsh, but they are true. Elizabeth refuses to just let things happen to her. And she refuses to marry someone who she doesn’t respect in the least.

8 “Can You Die Of Happiness?”

Jane and Mr. Bingley are of the same temperament. They are both quiet and modest and shy. They are very much in love with each other, but think the other to not be as interested in them as they are. This leads to them being away from each other for a while but when finally Mr. Bingley does propose, and when Jane accepts, they are both ecstatic.

Jane never reveals her emotions as clearly as Elizabeth does and so it is only after the engagement that she makes it very clear to Elizabeth how happy she actually is now. And it’s a very sweet moment to see such an excited Jane, who usually suppresses her emotions.

7 “Only The Deepest Love Will Persuade Me Into Matrimony, Which Is Why I Will End Up An Old Maid.”

This is one of those moments when Elizabeth clarifies her position of marriage and love. She doesn’t denounce it. But she makes it very clear that she will only marry for love.

And she realizes that this determination will most probably lead to her ending up as an old maid because she knew that there was a huge possibility that she wouldn’t fall in love so deeply with anyone around her.

6 “When You Have Five Daughters, Lizzie, Tell Me What Else Will Occupy Your Thoughts.”

Elizabeth mocks Mrs. Bennet for her undying interest in matters of marriage. When Lydia runs away, Mrs. Bennet takes to bed because she can’t handle the news. But when she finds out that Lydia has been wed, Mrs. Bennet is immediately excited once again that her 15-year-old daughter has managed to get herself married.

She thinks it something congratulatory. And so when she rushes down to meet them, and when Elizabeth mocks her for doing so, Mrs. Bennet is unapologetic. She has five daughters who will not inherit anything after their father’s death. So of course, it is the only thing she is worried about.

5 “First, I Must Tell You I’ve Been The Most Unmitigated And Comprehensive Ass.”

Jane and Mr. Bingley don’t get engaged as everyone had expected them to after their initial connection. Mr. Bingley goes away leaving Jane quite upset. Elizabeth later finds out that Mr. Darcy was responsible for this, along with Mr. Bingley’s sister.

They had quite convinced him that Jane was not as interested in him as he was in her and that her family was a terrible match for him. But later when Mr. Darcy brings Mr. Bingley back to Jane, Mr. Bingley starts his proposal by apologizing to Jane for being as stupid as he was. It is a very funny and sweet moment.

4 “Dancing. Even If One’s Partner Is Barely Tolerable.”

Mr. Darcy asks Elizabeth, “So what do you recommend, to encourage affection?” and she replies back with the above quote. It is particularly brilliant because Mr. Darcy had dismissed her earlier in the evening citing her to be “perfectly tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me.”

And Mr. Darcy had turned down Elizabeth’s offer to dance with him. So, Elizabeth is at her wittiest and cleverest here when she so obviously makes fun of Mr. Darcy.

3 “Not All Of Us Can Afford To Be Romantic.”

After Mr. Collins is turned down by Elizabeth, he asks her friend Charlotte to be his wife. Charlotte is 27, and plain-looking, according to the people around her. She has no other prospects so she very quickly accepts this proposal. Elizabeth is shocked that Charlotte is marrying someone who she doesn’t love, that she’s marrying just for economic reasons and for personal safety.

But Charlotte makes it clear that she doesn’t want to be judged for her actions. Elizabeth lives in a very different world from Charlotte, and Charlotte very rightly points out that not everyone has the luxury of being romantic and waiting for their true love to appear before them.

2 “I Love You, Most Ardently.”

Mr. Darcy declares his love for Elizabeth the first time in one of the most iconic moments from the movie. They are both drenched in the rain and Mr. Darcy gives a long monologue on how despite his own rational reasoning, he cannot help but be in love with Elizabeth.

It’s a very difficult and insulting monologue mainly because in being honest, Mr. Darcy doesn’t realize how harsh and offensive his words actually sound. But the one thing he makes very evident and clear is that he loves her, so very much. This quote is one of the most popular ones from the movie.

1 “You Have Bewitched Me, Body And Soul.”

And finally, this is the quote that is probably most heard in the context of this movie. Mr. Darcy is a changed man and this time around, his declaration of love is more beautiful and not offensive at all.

He has learned that he was insulting the previous time and he has completely understood what he had done wrong. With the fog and the lovers united, this is one of the most romantic and iconic quotes from the movie.

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