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But it was a matter of great consolation to her, that what…

“But it was a matter of great consolation to her, that what brought evil to herself would bring good to her sister; and Elinor, on the other hand, suspecting that it would not be in her power to avoid Edward entirely, comforted herself by thinking, that though their longer stay would therefore…” quote by Jane Austen
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““But it was a matter of great consolation to her, that what brought evil to herself would bring good to her sister; and Elinor, on the other hand, suspecting that it would not be in her power to avoid Edward entirely, comforted herself by thinking, that though their longer stay would therefore militate against her own happiness, it would be better for Marianne than an immediate return into Devonshire.””

Jane Austen

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Marianne finds comfort knowing her suffering may benefit her sister, while Elinor accepts limited control over Edward, focusing on her sister’s long‑term happiness.

In simple terms: Suffering can bring benefit to others; accept limited control.

Key Takeaway

Find purpose in helping others despite personal loss.

Themes

family sacrifice acceptance hope

Mood

reflective hopeful

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • marriage decisions
  • family crises
  • personal setbacks
  • long‑term planning

Key Concepts

altruism interdependence resilience

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can you balance self‑care with caring for loved ones?
  • What does “good for her sister” truly mean?
A Different Perspective

May overlook personal needs for others’ benefit.

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