I've been reading Emma and she reminds me of the type of woman I could have turned into. Bossy, know-it-all little lady that occasionally spews out something rather profound and worth remembering. Here are the quotes so far. Number 3 is lovely; woman independence at its prime.
I hope it may be allowed that if compassion has produced exertion and relief to the sufferers, it has done all that is truly important. If we feel for the wretched, enough to do all we can for them, the rest is empty sympathy, only distressing to ourselves.
It is poverty only which makes celibacy contemptible to a generous public! A single woman, with a very narrow income, must be a ridiculous, disagreeable, old maid! The proper sport of boys and girls; but a single woman, of good fortune, is always respectable, and may be as sensible and pleasant as anybody else.
I have none of the usual inducements of women to marry. Were I to fall in love, indeed, it would be a different thing! but I never have been in love; it is not my way, or my nature; and I do not think I ever shall. And, without love, I am sure I should be a fool to change such a situation as mine. Fortune I do not want; employment I do not want; consequence I do not want: I believe few married women are half as much mistress of their husband's house, as I am of Hartfield; and never, never could I expect to be so truly beloved and important; so always first and always right in any man's eyes as I am in my father's.
A man always imagines a woman to be ready for anybody who asks her.A line (above) I must remember to throw at my brother.
The older a person grows, Harriet, the more important it is that their manners should not be bad—the more glaring and disgusting any loudness, or coarseness, or awkwardness becomes. What is passable in youth, is detestable in later age.
I lay it down as a general rule, Harriet, that if a woman doubts as to whether she should accept a man or not, she certainly ought to refuse him. If she can hesitate as to 'Yes,' she ought to say 'No' directly. It is not a state to be safely entered into with doubtful feelings, with half a heart.
So, Emma should tone down her primal instincts regarding Harriet's well being and focus a tad more on herself instead.
It's a funny book, though, at times. A nice recovery after The Road and Liquidation.
And here's another cute Skywalker twin picture:
Did I ever mention that my twin and I were Luke and Leia for Halloween, in a year far, far away?
Well now you know.
