In honor of Valentine’s Day, I thought I’d share some of my favorite literary love and romance quotes. Of course, they come from some fantastic books. I have included a link for each book in case you’re interested in reading the whole thing. Some of these quotes will be very familiar to you, but maybe some of them are new. New or old, hopefully they will inspire you.
Doesn’t everyone love a good romance? I’m not talking about the genre of book (shirtless pirate on the cover) so much as the type of story that makes you hope and dream. Or the kind of book that helps you appreciate the love you already have in your life. Whether or not a book has a happy ending, love stories move us.Maybe it’s because to love is the greatest human trait and need. Happy Valentine’s Day!
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21 Romantic Quotes for Valentine’s Day
Margaret Mitchell – Gone with the Wind
Rhett Butler and Scarlet O’Hara? Sigh. Yes, I should be kissed often and by someone who knows how. You are correct! If this doesn’t get you ready for Valentine’s Day, what will? Maybe one of the next few quotes? Check out the full story here:Gone with the Wind
Charlotte Bronte – Jane Eyre
The story is a little dark at times, but the romance and love story is poignant and I love Jane’s independent spirit. Read her full story here:Jane Eyre (Penguin Classics)
Jane Austen – Sense and Sensibility
Isn’t this a perfect quote for Valentine’s Day? Unfortunately it’s not actually in the book! It’s from the 1995 film version, but not in the original novel. But I love it so much, I included it anyway! You can get the novel and check it yourself here: Sense and Sensibility (Penguin Classics)
Virginia Woolfe – Night and Day
So this is a little deeper in terms of reading. It’s not a light read by any means, but isn’t the quote beautiful? You can get the whole story here:Night and Day -Full Version (Annotated) (Literary Classics Collection Book 52)
Kiersten White – The Chaos of the Stars
This is listed as teen fiction, but I loved it and I left my teenage years a long time ago. It’s about first love and complicated family relationships. Can’t we all identify with that? Get the book here:The Chaos of Stars
William Shakespeare – Othello
Okay, so this is a love story that ends badly. In fact, it can’t get any worse, but it is a love story (tragic as it is) and it has this beautiful quote to share. If you haven’t read Othello since high school, pick up a copy here:Othello
Leo Tolstoy – Anna Karenina
Another literary classic that I haven’t picked up since I was in college. Need to read it again? Get it here:Anna Karenina (Modern Library Classics)
William Goldman – The Princess Bride
Most people know the movie version better than the novel, but, as good as the movie is, the book is so much better. Buy the book here The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern’s Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure
Victor Hugo – Les Miserables
Unless you have a lot of spare time on your hands, you might want to reconsider reading this classic. It’s nearly 1500 pages long! Or you could always watch the film or Broadway version. Those of you who really like a reading challenge can find the book here: Les Miserables (Signet Classics)
John Galsworthy – The Forsyte Saga
This is actually a set of three novels originally published in the 1920s. They tell the story of a well-off English family at the turn of the 19th century. There is a remarkable PBS mini series version starring Damien Lewis that you can get here THE FORSYTE SAGA COLLECTION
Nicole Krauss – The History of Love
I love this story. It is so beautiful. The only problem you might have with it is the ending. It doesn’t wrap things up neatly in a pretty bow. If there is one book here you should read, this is probably it.The History of Love
Frederik Backman – A Man Called Ove
This is truly a love story on many levels. It is also one of my favorite books of all time. Ove is a widower struggling with the loss of his beloved wife. The book is about their love story and also about how love and friendship can save and redeem people. If you haven’t read it, please, please get this book.A Man Called Ove: A Novel
Jane Austen – Emma
Is there any other author that can write a romantic quote like Jane Austen? This is one of my favorites from Emma…Mr. Knightley…sigh. There are several good film version ( I own them all), but if you’re a reader, try the classic novel version:Emma (Penguin Classics)
William Makepeace Thackeray – The History of Pendennis
Thackeray’s better known work is Vanity Fair, but this romantic quote comes from a lesser know novel. It is said to semi-autobiographical. Do you agree with his sentiments? Read his story here: The history of Pendennis His fortunes and misfortunes, his friends and his greatest enemy (1858). A NOVEL (Volume 2): By: William Makepeace Thackeray (illustrated)
William Shakespeare – Hamlet
Yes, this is another Shakespearean tragedy, but the quote is full of passion. There are many excellent film version of Hamlet, but you can read it here:Hamlet ( Folger Library Shakespeare)
Emily Bronte – Wuthering Heights
Heathcliff and Catherine love passionately, dangerously, and obsessively. I remember seeing this on the stage when I was about 20. I read it in high school and in college. It’s a great love story, but don’t expect a happy ending. Get it here: Wuthering Heights (Penguin Classics)
Charles Dickens – Great Expectations
Charles Dickens considered this novel to be his greatest work. It is full of his normal themes: wealth and poverty, love and rejection, and good vs. evil. If you haven’t read it, give it a try: Great Expectations (Penguin Classics)
Jane Austen – Pride and Prejudice
No list of romantic book quotes could be complete without one from our dear Mr. Darcy. I always feel so sorry for him when he confesses his love to Elizabeth, and she’s just not in the mood to hear it. Never fear, the ending is a happy one. Read it for yourself: Pride and Prejudice
Walt Whitman – Songs of the Open Road
Yes. Whitman is known for his poetry, not novels, but this quote counts as both literature and romance. “Shall we stick by each other as long as we live” sounds like a proposal to me. See Whitman’s complete works:The Complete Poems (Penguin Classics)
Jane Austen – Persuasion
I’m ending with another quote from Jane Austen. If you haven’t read Persuasion, it’s about lost first love and redemption. It really has it all when it comes to love stories. Get it here:Persuasion
That’s it. Twenty-one of my favorite romantic quotes from literature. Do you have any you could add to my collection? Please share them in the comments section. I love a good quote!
Thanks for reading and please share the love!
