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
Walter Scott has no business to write novels, especially good ones. It is not fair. He has fame and profit enough as a poet, and should not be taking the bread out of the mouths of other people.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Jane Austen humorously critiques Walter Scott's success as a novelist, suggesting he monopolizes literary fame.
In this quote, Jane Austen expresses a tongue-in-cheek concern about Walter Scott's prowess in writing novels, highlighting how his achievements in poetry seem abundant, yet he encroaches upon the territory of other writers. She humorously complains that by succeeding in yet another genre, Scott is unfairly depriving other authors of the opportunity to gain recognition and success in the field of novel writing.
Themes
LiteratureSuccessHumorMonopolyOpportunity
In practice
Example use cases
In a literary discussion about the impact of famous authors on emerging writers.
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