Quotes
Greta Scaatchi, in narration: In a time when one's town was one's world, and the actions at a dance created greater interest than the movement of armies, there lived a young woman who knew how this world should be run.
Emma: The most beautiful thing in the world is a match well made!
Emma and Mr. Knightley spar over the value of rendering "services" to Mr. Elton:
- Mr. Knightley: Mr. Elton is a man of twenty-six. He knows how to take care of himself.
- Emma: One does not like to generalise about so many people all at once, Mr Knightley, but you may be sure that men know nothing about their hearts, whether they be six and twenty, or six and eighty! - excepting you of course, father! (to her daddy)
On the subject of Mr. Elton's contribution to Harriet's and Emma's riddle book...
- Mr Knightley: Emma-why didn't you ask me to contribute?
- Emma: Your entire personality is a riddle, Mr Knightley. I thought you over-qualified.
Harriet, to Emma, regarding Mr. Martin's letter of proposal: Is it a good letter or too short?
Emma, noodging Harriet to reject Robert Martin: It is not my place to intrude in personal matters. But - as your friend, I could make an exception...
Emma, on Mr. Knightley's reaction to Harriet's refusal of Robert Martin: The most incomprehensible thing in the world, to a man, is a woman who rejects his offer of marriage!
Emma, on male hypocrisy: Humph! You dismiss her beauty and good nature, yet I would be very much mistaken if your sex in general does not think those claims the highest a woman could possess!
Mr. Knightley to Emma, with intense conviction and double meaning, on her refusal to acknowledge Harriet inferior to Mr. Martin: Men of sense, whatever you may say, do not want silly wives!
Mr. Knightley, on Emma's poorly-aimed arrow: Try not to kill my dogs.
Mr. Knightley, on Emma's manipulation of Harriet: Vanity working on a weak mind produces all kinds of mischief.
Mr. Knightley, to Emma: Better to be without sense than misapply it as you do.
Emma and Mr. Knightley agree to disagree:
- Emma: How fascinating that any discordancy between us must always arise from my being wrong.
- Mr. Knightley: Not fascinating, but true.
Mr. Knightley, on his relationship with Emma: Is it not a brother's job to find fault with his sister?
Emma: What's the point of being almost twenty-two when there is so much in the world yet to learn?
Emma to Mr. Elton:
- Emma: Thank you for being so thoughtful.
- Mr. Elton: Thank you for thinking I was being so thoughtful.