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| Anne Hathaway as Jane Austen, Becoming Jane 2007 |
I recently came across a fascinating article in Italian on Libreriamo about Jane Austen’s reflections on writing. Since most of my readers are based in the UK, the US, and other English-speaking countries, I wanted to share it here in English, together with the quotes that inspired me.
A Woman Writing in Silence and in Strength
Jane Austen is celebrated today as one of the giants of English literature, yet during her lifetime she never received public recognition for her work. She published anonymously — her beloved Pride and Prejudice appeared in 1813 under the simple description “By a Lady”. At home, she often wrote in secret, hiding her manuscripts quickly if someone entered the room.
The world she lived in was governed by men and left little space for women’s voices in the public sphere. But Austen was never silent. Through her novels and letters, she built a literary space that was witty, ironic, and profoundly observant. Writing for her was not only a private pleasure but also a subtle act of resistance: an affirmation that women could think, create, and laugh at the world around them.
It is this spirit that makes her reflections on writing so compelling today. Whether playful or serious, they reveal an author who understood both the challenges and the joys of her craft.
Here are ten quotes from Jane Austen’s letters (and a few reported remarks) that capture her wit, her modesty, and her unshakable commitment to writing.
Ten Quotes from Jane Austen on Writing
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“I will take care of two curtseys on paper.”– Letter to CassandraEven the smallest social gesture, when observed with her sharp eye, could become literature.
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“There is nothing one cannot say in a letter, except what one really wishes to say.”– Letter to CassandraFor Austen, the letter was both intimate and performative, a place where truth always played hide-and-seek.
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“I have never been able to hear the applause without feeling a desire to write.”– Letter to CassandraPraise did not inflate her ego; it motivated her to create more.
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“My idea of an author is one who can make something interesting out of what he knows well.”– Letter to James Stanier ClarkeA sharp reminder that writing grows not from fantasy alone, but from a deep engagement with reality.
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“Composition is now performed with little labor and great enjoyment.”– Letter to CassandraA glimpse of Austen at her happiest: letting words flow freely, with joy and ease.
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“Every woman should write for her own pleasure, even if no one ever reads it.”– Attributed remark (apocryphal)Whether or not this is authentically hers, it certainly reflects her spirit: authenticity before ambition.
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“I should like to write something very good which should be very much like myself.”– Letter to CassandraA testament to her longing for truth in art — to create something honest, something that reflected who she was.
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“My style is too light and unpretending to suit the pen of a great author.”– Letter to James Stanier ClarkeModest, ironic, yet fiercely protective of her unique style: light but never superficial.
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“Writing is my delight; when real life wearies me, I retreat into my pages.”– Reconstructed from lettersWriting as refuge, as solace, as the place where she felt most alive.
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“I feel like a negligent mother for my poor Mansfield Park, so little loved by all.”– Letter to CassandraTender and humorous, showing her affection for her works as if they were her children.
Anne Hathaway as Jane Austen, Becoming Jane 2007
Why These Words Still Matter
What I love most about these reflections is their timelessness. Jane Austen knew her worth, even when society refused to acknowledge it. She found joy in writing, even when the act had to be hidden away at the sound of footsteps. And she used her pen as both mirror and weapon: to observe the world around her, and to laugh at its absurdities.
For all of us who read and write today, Austen’s words remain an inspiration: to write with honesty, with courage, and — above all — with pleasure.
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