In the violent scorn of her revolted pride, of her…
““In the violent scorn of her revolted pride, of her indignant honor, had she forgotten a lowlier yet harder duty left undone? In her contempt and dread of yielding to mere amorous weakness had she stifled and denied the cry of pity, the cry of conscience? To suffer woes which hope thinks infinite. To forgive wrongs darker than death or night. To defy power which seems omnipotent. To love and live to hope till hope creates from it's own wreck the thing it contemplates. Neither to change, nor falter, nor repent. This had been the higher, diviner way which she had missed, this obligation from the passion of the past which she had left unfulfilled, unaccepted. Now the misgiving arose in her whether she had mistaken arrogance for duty; whether, cleaving so closely to honor she had forgotten the obligation of mercy.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A woman wrestles with pride, honor, and duty, questioning whether she has neglected mercy for personal arrogance.
In simple terms: She wonders if pride eclipsed compassion.
Key Takeaway
Balance honor with compassion.
Themes
pride
honor
duty
mercy
inner conflict
Mood
conflicted
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal decision making
- leadership
- conflict resolution
- self‑reflection
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
psychology
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- What does true honor require?
- How can one integrate mercy without losing self‑respect?
A Different Perspective
She may be over‑valuing honor at the expense of empathy.