---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So I really think that your parents…"
description: "\"“So I really think that your parents should let you marry me. Not right now--I have so much to do, with Mika and Philantha and the magic--but someday. ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b99/eilis-o-neal-15415_gaze_so-i-really-think-that-your-parents-shou_2255081.jpg"
---

#  So I really think that your parents should let you marry…

![“So I really think that your parents should let you marry me. Not right now--I have so much to do, with Mika and Philantha and the magic--but someday. Someday not too far away. I did save Thorvaldor, after all, and I expect that Mika will pay me well in exchange for my years of knowledge. She even…” quote by Eilis O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b99/eilis-o-neal-15415_gaze_so-i-really-think-that-your-parents-shou_2255081.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b99/eilis-o-neal-15415_gaze_so-i-really-think-that-your-parents-shou_2255081.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b99/eilis-o-neal-15415_gaze_so-i-really-think-that-your-parents-shou_2255081.jpg)

> ““So I really think that your parents should let you marry me. Not right now--I have so much to do, with Mika and Philantha and the magic--but someday. Someday not too far away. I did save Thorvaldor, after all, and I expect that Mika will pay me well in exchange for my years of knowledge. She even threatened to title me--it would be just like her to want to rub everyone’s noses in my commonness. And I think that, if they have any objections, you should just--” “Break with them?” he asked. He was trying to be serious, but one corner of his mouth kept twitching. “Well, yes,” I admitted. “I already did,” he said, and my mouth fell open. “Or at least, I threatened to, if they wouldn’t give me their blessing.” A thin line worked its way between his eyebrows, and his smile dimmed a little. “I think they knew it was coming, but it didn’t make my father happy. He stormed around shouting about duty, and for a while I thought I might really have to go through with it.” The line deepened, and he glanced away from me. “That was frightening. It was my choice-- is my choice--but practically it would have been…difficult. You aren’t the only person who was trained for just one thing. I don’t know if I know how to be anything but the future Earl of Rithia. I kept telling myself I could do it, become someone else if they disinherited me, but I didn’t want to break with them. I would have, but I didn’t want to.” My heart clenched a little, seeing the glimmer of tension around his eyes. Suddenly, the tiny grin flickered at his mouth again. “But then my father started thinking about the advantages of my marrying someone who had done the future queen such a service. After that, he was happy to give his blessing.” I shook my head as if to clear it. I had come here asking him to do just that, but hearing it out loud seemed like something from a dream. “You really told them you wanted to marry me?” I asked. The smile had taken over his whole face now. “I told you before: I fell under your spell before you even knew you had magic, before you saved a kingdom, back when there was no chance you would be allowed to marry me. Nothing’s really changed since then, except that now any children we have might be wizards themselves, and I’ll be hopelessly outnumbered. “So, yes, I want to marry you. Someday. If you’ll have me,” he said modestly. “Of course I will, you idiot,” I said with a shriek, and threw myself into his arms.””

[Eilis O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eilis-o-neal/)

## About This Quote

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

A character wrestles with duty, love, and family expectations, ultimately choosing personal desire over imposed obligations.

**In simple terms:** Choosing love over duty can be hard but rewarding.

Key Takeaway

Follow your heart despite pressure.

Themes

love family duty choice identity

Mood

conflicted hopeful determined

Type

narrative dialogue character

When to use this quote

- courtship negotiations
- family discussions
- personal decision making
- career vs. personal life
- inheritance disputes

Key Concepts

social expectations personal agency inheritance marriage conflict

Questions to Reflect On

- What would you sacrifice for love?
- How do you balance duty and desire?

A Different Perspective

Family pressure may cause lasting resentment or loss of personal authenticity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Thin line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thin-line/)

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            "text": "“So I really think that your parents should let you marry me. Not right now--I have so much to do, with Mika and Philantha and the magic--but someday. Someday not too far away. I did save Thorvaldor, after all, and I expect that Mika will pay me well in exchange for my years of knowledge. She even threatened to title me--it would be just like her to want to rub everyone’s noses in my commonness. And I think that, if they have any objections, you should just--” “Break with them?” he asked. He was trying to be serious, but one corner of his mouth kept twitching. “Well, yes,” I admitted. “I already did,” he said, and my mouth fell open. “Or at least, I threatened to, if they wouldn’t give me their blessing.” A thin line worked its way between his eyebrows, and his smile dimmed a little. “I think they knew it was coming, but it didn’t make my father happy. He stormed around shouting about duty, and for a while I thought I might really have to go through with it.” The line deepened, and he glanced away from me. “That was frightening. It was my choice-- is my choice--but practically it would have been…difficult. You aren’t the only person who was trained for just one thing. I don’t know if I know how to be anything but the future Earl of Rithia. I kept telling myself I could do it, become someone else if they disinherited me, but I didn’t want to break with them. I would have, but I didn’t want to.” My heart clenched a little, seeing the glimmer of tension around his eyes. Suddenly, the tiny grin flickered at his mouth again. “But then my father started thinking about the advantages of my marrying someone who had done the future queen such a service. After that, he was happy to give his blessing.” I shook my head as if to clear it. I had come here asking him to do just that, but hearing it out loud seemed like something from a dream. “You really told them you wanted to marry me?” I asked. The smile had taken over his whole face now. “I told you before: I fell under your spell before you even knew you had magic, before you saved a kingdom, back when there was no chance you would be allowed to marry me. Nothing’s really changed since then, except that now any children we have might be wizards themselves, and I’ll be hopelessly outnumbered. “So, yes, I want to marry you. Someday. If you’ll have me,” he said modestly. “Of course I will, you idiot,” I said with a shriek, and threw myself into his arms.”",
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