Marianne Dashwood was born to an extraordinary fate. She was born to discover the falsehood of her own opinions, and to counteract, by her conduct, her most favourite maxims.

There could have been no two hearts so open, no tastes so similar, no feelings so in unison

No one can be really esteemed accomplished who does not greatly surpass what is usually met with.

She will never submit to any thing requiring industry and patience, and a subjection of the fancy to the understanding.

I read it [history] a little as a duty, but it tells me nothing that does not either vex or weary me. The quarrels of popes and kings, with wars or pestilences, in every page; the men all so good for nothing, and hardly any women at all — it is very tiresome: and yet I often think it odd that it should be so dull, for a great deal of it must be invention.

If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more.

The stream is as good as at first; the little rubbish it collects in the turnings is easily moved away.