The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure…
““The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid. I have read all Mrs. Radcliffe's works, and most of them with great pleasure. The Mysteries of Udolpho, when I had once begun it, I could not lay down again; I remember finishing it in two days—my hair standing on end the whole time." "Yes," added Miss Tilney, "and I remember that you undertook to read it aloud to me, and that when I was called away for only five minutes to answer a note, instead of waiting for me, you took the volume into the Hermitage Walk, and I was obliged to stay till you had finished it." "Thank you, Eleanor—a most honourable testimony. You see, Miss Morland, the injustice of your suspicions. Here was I, in my eagerness to get on, refusing to wait only five minutes for my sister, breaking the promise I had made of reading it aloud, and keeping her in suspense at a most interesting part, by running away with the volume, which, you are to observe, was her own, particularly her own. I am proud when I reflect on it, and I think it must establish me in your good opinion.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage sat how love for thrilling stories can dominate behavior, leading to selfish choices that betray trust.
In simple terms: Obsessive reading can cause selfishness.
Key Takeaway
Consider others before indulging personal excitement.
Themes
literature
obsession
trust
social etiquette
Mood
amused
reflective
Type
literary
conversational
reflective
When to use this quote
- reading aloud to a friend
- sharing a novel
- waiting for a pause
- managing excitement
- maintaining promises
Key Concepts
Romanticism
gothic fascination
selfishness
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you prioritize personal excitement over others’ needs?
- How can you balance enthusiasm with responsibility?
A Different Perspective
The narrator’s eagerness may overlook the value of patience and respect for others’ time.