Comfort Quote by Jane Austen
““Dear Eloisa (said I) there’s no occasion for your crying so much about such a trifle. (for I was willing to make light of it in order to comfort her) I beg you would not mind it – You see it does not vex me in the least; though perhaps I may suffer most from it after all; for I shall not only be obliged to eat up all the Victuals I have dressed already, but must if Henry should recover (which however is not very likely) dress as much for you again; or should he die (as I suppose he will) I shall still have to prepare a Dinner for you whenever you marry any one else. So you see that tho perhaps for the present it may afflict you to think of Henry’s sufferings, yet I dare say he’ll die soon and then his pain will be over and you will be easy, whereas my Trouble will last much longer for work as hard as I may, I am certain that the pantry cannot be cleared in less than a fortnight””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Sense and Sensibility, 1811
A speaker offers a pragmatic, slightly cynical view of a lover’s grief, suggesting practical concerns outweigh emotional ones and that the lover’s eventual death will resolve the situation.
In simple terms: Practical concerns outweigh emotional grief about a lover’s death.
Key Takeaway
Focus on practicalities, not lingering sorrow.
Themes
practicality
relationships
death
humor
self‑interest
Mood
wry
reflective
light‑hearted
Type
literary
humorous
philosophical
When to use this quote
- marriage negotiations
- family finances
- caregiver fatigue
- anticipating loss
Key Concepts
masculine duty
emotional suppression
social expectations
Questions to Reflect On
- Is it ever appropriate to prioritize practicality over compassion?
- How does humor affect coping with grief?
A Different Perspective
The speaker’s tone may minimize genuine emotional pain, overlooking the value of empathy.
![“Everybody is taken in at some period or another. [...] In marriage especially. [...] There is not one in a hundred of either sex, who is not taken in when they marry. Look where I will, I see that it is so; and I feel that it must be so, when I consider that it is, of all transactions, the one in…” quote by Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/37a/jane-austen-39_marriage_everybody-is-taken-in-at-some-period-or_7175.jpg)
