Valentine's Day 2026 Wishes: 20+ Best Quotes from Classic Books That Have Been There for Centuries

Valentine’s Day is a holiday that people celebrate on the 14th of February every year. It is also known as Saint Valentine’s Day.

On Valentine’s Day, people greet their loved ones, friends, family members, and classmates with cards that are known as valentines. 

Valentine’s Day wishes and quotes from classic books add a sense of timelessness, making your message stand out as being truly memorable. 

The Greeting Card Association reports that around 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged annually, with only Christmas being a higher figure. 

Check 20+ best Valentine's Day wishes from classic books that have inspired people for centuries. Find romantic quotes from Jane Austen, Shakespeare, and more to share on cards or messages.

Valentine's Day Wishes: 20+ Best Quotes from Classic Books That Have Been There for Centuries

Classic literature provides us with some of the most timeless Valentine’s Day wishes and quotes. There are quotes and phrases in novels written over a hundred years ago, and they still express the depth of love in a way that is perfect for a Valentine’s card. Here are 20+ handpicked quotes to spark your celebrations:

• "In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you." 

– Mr. Darcy, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813)

• "You have bewitched me, body and soul." 

– Mr. Darcy, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813)

• "Doubt thou the stars are fire; doubt that the sun doth move; doubt truth to be a liar; but never doubt I love." 

– Hamlet, Hamlet by William Shakespeare (1603)

• "I have for the first time found what I can truly love—I have found you." 

– Mr. Rochester, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (1847)

• "He's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same." 

– Catherine, Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë (1847)

• "We loved with a love that was more than love." 

– Narrator, Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe (1849)

• "I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you." 

– Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Sonnets from the Portuguese (1850)

• "As in the soft and sweet eclipse, when soul meets soul on lovers’ lips." 

– Percy Bysshe Shelley, Prometheus Unbound (1820)

• "See how she leans her cheek upon her hand! O, that I were a glove upon that hand, that I might touch that cheek!" 

– Romeo, Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (1597)

• "You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope... I have loved none but you." 

– Captain Wentworth, Persuasion by Jane Austen (1817)

• "Every atom of your flesh is as dear to me as my own." 

– Jane, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (1847)

• "Love is a great beautifier." 

– Louisa May Alcott, Little Women (1868)

• "I cannot think of you and myself separately. You and I are one for me." 

– Vronsky, Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (1878)

• "The fever of first love. For it is a fever, and a burden, too." 

– Narrator, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (1938)

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

– Narrator, Emma by Jane Austen (1815)

• "I love the ground under his feet, and the air over his head." 

– Catherine, Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë (1847)

• "Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind." 

– Theseus, A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare (1595)

• "If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be." 

– Catherine, Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë (1847)

• "He was the first, the only love of her life." 

– Narrator, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (1868)

These quotes span centuries, from Shakespeare's 16th-century plays to 19th-century novels. Copy them for your Valentine's messages to add literary charm. 

How to Personalise these Classic Valentines Day Quotes for Cards?

The Valentine's Day quotes given above are from famous authors and writers, who have portrayed love beautifully, and in a way that it consumes you. Use the steps below to personalise these classic Valentines Day quotes into cards for your loved ones:

1. Pick a quote that matches your relationship vibe, like Darcy's ardent love for deep bonds.
2. Swap generic words: Change "you" to their pet name or "love" to an inside joke.
3. Add a personal memory: Insert "like our beach sunset" after the quote.
4. Pair with specifics: Write "For my stargazing partner" above it.
5. Sign off uniquely: Use "Forever yours, [nickname]" instead of "Love."
6. Test readability: Keep it under 3 lines for cards.

These tweaks make timeless words feel intimate.

Why is Valentine's Day Celebrated?

Valentine’s Day, celebrated on the 14th of February, is a celebration of love. It’s a celebration across the world, honoring the feeling of love, a blend of ancient rituals and stories of saints, evolving into a tradition across the world to exchange gifts, cards, and make dinner dates.

The origins of Valentine’s Day go back to the Roman festival of Lupercalia, celebrated in the month of February, where there was a lottery system for random pairings for fertility rituals. In the year 500, Pope Gelasius replaced this with St. Valentine’s Day, commemorating priests who secretly married couples.

The best way to celebrate Valentine’s Day is to share classic quotes. These are the most personal and timeless, suitable for the celebration of Valentine’s Day.

Check the Word of the Day: Valentine here.

Conclusion

The best Valentine’s Day wishes come from classic quotes found in classic books, ones that have survived the test of time, expressing love in simple yet profound ways, suitable for the celebration of Valentine’s Day in the present day. Here are 20+ classic quotes to make Valentine’s Day memorable.