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
No young lady can be justified in falling in love before the gentleman's love is declared, it must be very improper that a young lady should dream of a gentleman before the gentleman is first known to have dreamt of her.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes that a young woman should not fall in love unless the man's feelings are openly expressed first.
In this quote, Jane Austen suggests that romantic feelings should be mutual and openly acknowledged before any deep emotional attachment develops. It implies that a young lady's affection should be contingent upon a gentleman's declaration of his own love, promoting the idea of respect and reciprocal emotions in relationships.
Themes
LoveRomanceRelationshipsMutual FeelingsRespect
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on romantic relationships in a literature class, this quote can illustrate the concept of mutual affection.
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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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