Education Quote by Jane Austen
““he shewed himself so intimately acquainted with all the tenderest songs of the one poet, and all the impassioned descriptions of hopeless agony of the other; he repeated, with such tremulous feeling, the various lines which imaged a broken heart, or a mind destroyed by wretchedness, and looked so entirely as if he meant to be understood, that she ventured to hope he did not always read only poetry; and to say, that she thought it was the misfortune of poetry, to be seldom safely enjoyed by those who enjoyed it completely; and that the strong feelings which alone could estimate it truly, were the very feelings which ought to taste it but sparingly...she ventured to recommend a larger allowance of prose in his daily study.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Pride and Prejudice, 1813
The passage critiques a poet’s excessive emotional focus, urging balance with prose for broader understanding.
In simple terms: It warns against over‑indulgence in poetry, recommending prose.
Key Takeaway
Seek balance between artistic forms.
Themes
literature
artistic balance
criticism
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
literary
critical
When to use this quote
- literary analysis
- creative writing
- education
Key Concepts
poetry
prose
emotional expression
Questions to Reflect On
- How does prose complement poetry?
- When is poetry insufficient?
A Different Perspective
Might dismiss poetry’s depth.
![“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)
