From the very beginning— from the first moment, I may…
“From the very beginning— from the first moment, I may almost say— of my acquaintance with you, your manners, impressing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain of the feelings of others, were such as to form the groundwork of disapprobation on which succeeding events have built so immovable a dislike; and I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The narrator describes an immediate, intense dislike for someone based on perceived arrogance and selfishness, setting a foundation for lasting aversion.
In simple terms: First impressions of arrogance cause lasting dislike.
Key Takeaway
Beware of judging too quickly.
Themes
first impressions
arrogance
dislike
Mood
skeptical
reflective
Type
literary
character analysis
When to use this quote
- dating
- first meetings
- team dynamics
- client relations
Key Concepts
social perception
emotional bias
Questions to Reflect On
- Can you separate initial bias from later evidence?
- How might empathy change this view?
A Different Perspective
The quote may overstate the permanence of first impressions.