I pay very little regard...to what any young person says on the subject of marriage. If they profess a disinclination for it, I only set it down that they have not yet seen the right person.
Jane AustenRead
Elizabeth had never been more at a loss to make her feelings appear what they were not. It was necessary to laugh, when she would rather have cried.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the struggle of masking true emotions in social situations.
In this quote, Jane Austen highlights the challenge that individuals often face when trying to conform to social expectations, especially in relationships. Elizabeth is torn between her genuine feelings of sadness and the pressure to appear cheerful, revealing the tension between authenticity and societal demands. This struggle resonates with anyone who has experienced the difficulty of presenting a facade in order to fit in or to avoid conflict.
Themes
FeelingsMaskingEmotionsSocietyAuthenticity
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote during a mental health awareness event to discuss emotional honesty.
More from Jane Austen
All quotes βNobody could catch cold by the sea; nobody wanted appetite by the sea; nobody wanted spirits; nobody wanted strength. Sea air was healing, softening, relaxing - fortifying and bracing - seemingly just as was wanted - sometimes one, sometimes the other. If the sea breeze failed, the seabath was the certain corrective; and where bathing disagreed, the sea air alone was evidently designed by nature for the cure.
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He certainly is very agreeable, and I give you leave to like him. You have liked many a stupider person.
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A person who is knowingly bent on bad behavior, gets upset when better behavior is expected of them.
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You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever.
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She hoped to be wise and reasonable in time; but alas! Alas! She must confess to herself that she was not wise yet.
Jane AustenRead
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