Jane Austen Quote – Week 41 (by Linda)

My quote this week is from Persuasion, Chapter 24:



QUOTE

Who can be in doubt of what followed? When any two young people take it into their heads to marry, they are pretty sure by perseverance to carry their point, be they ever so poor, or ever so imprudent, or ever so little likely to be necessary to each other's ultimate comfort. This may be bad morality to conclude with, but I believe it to be truth; and if such parties succeed, how should a Captain Wentworth and an Anne Elliot, with the advantage of maturity of mind, consciousness of right, and one independent fortune between them, fail of bearing down every opposition? They might, in fact, have borne down a great deal more than they met with, for there was little to distress them beyond the want of graciousness and warmth. Sir Walter made no objection, and Elizabeth did nothing worse than look cold and unconcerned. Captain Wentworth, with five-and-twenty thousand pounds, and as high in his profession as merit and activity could place him, was no longer nobody. He was now esteemed quite worthy to address the daughter of a foolish, spendthrift baronet, who had not had principle or sense enough to maintain himself in the situation in which Providence had placed him, and who could give his daughter at present but a small part of the share of ten thousand pounds which must be hers hereafter.

END OF QUOTE

Pardon me for sounding ‘preachy’ to the younger generation, but today, Jan. 30, is my 68th birthday, and what a horrible day it was. Four sick people in the house to nurse and me just getting over a siege myself and feeling rather poorly. We decided to postpone my celebration till everyone was feeling better and the ice storms had melted so visitors could travel.

My quote was brought on by the wedding plans of my dear friend’s son. I thought what Jane had to say was true and appropriate. She gives us, in the nicest way, what we shouldn’t do, and then gives us an example of how it should be done via Anne and Wentworth. I only wish I had seen this quote some 39 years ago. She has included so many truths that we really have to pay attention to catch them. So ends today’s sermonette.

Linda the Librarian

Pic: Anne Elliot (Amanda Root) and Captain Wentworth (Ciaran Hinds) in Persuasion 1995, from The Independent UK