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
You are mistaken, Mr. Darcy, if you suppose that the mode of your declaration affected me in any other way, than as it spared the concern which I might have felt in refusing you, had you behaved in a more gentlemanlike manner.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The speaker conveys that the manner of a romantic proposal influences her feelings regarding its acceptance or refusal.
In this quote from Jane Austen, the speaker addresses Mr. Darcy, indicating that his approach to expressing his feelings did not upset her, but rather relieved her from the discomfort of rejecting him. The emphasis is on the importance of respect and politeness in romantic intentions, suggesting that how one expresses love can significantly shape the response it elicits.
Themes
DeclarationGentlemanRespectFeelingsRefusal
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about romantic relationships, you might say this quote to highlight the significance of respect in courtship.
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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.
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