Ten years Quote by Jane Austen
““Fanny Price was at this time just ten years old, and though there might not be much in her first appearance to captivate, there was, at least, nothing to disgust her relations. She was small of her age, with no glow of complexion, nor any other striking beauty; exceedingly timid and shy, and shrinking from notice; but her air, though awkward, was not vulgar, her voice was sweet, and when she spoke her countenance was pretty. Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram received her very kindly; and Sir Thomas, seeing how much she needed encouragement, tried to be all that was conciliating: but he had to work against a most untoward gravity of deportment; and Lady Bertram, without taking half so much trouble, or speaking one word where he spoke ten, by the mere aid of a good-humoured smile, became immediately the less awful character of the two.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, 1811
Fanny is a shy, plain girl whose modesty and sweetness endear her despite her lack of striking beauty.
In simple terms: A shy girl wins affection through kindness.
Key Takeaway
Appreciate quiet virtues.
Themes
humility
social acceptance
family dynamics
Mood
gentle
reflective
Type
literary
character study
When to use this quote
- family gatherings
- boarding school
- courtship
- social events
- personal growth
Key Concepts
character development
social class
gender expectations
Questions to Reflect On
- How does modesty affect one's social mobility?
- Can kindness overcome physical unattractiveness?
A Different Perspective
Her timid nature may limit her influence in a rigid society.
![“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)
