Beauty Quote by Jane Austen
“I have no pretensions whatever to that kind of elegance which consists in tormenting a respectable man.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Pride and Prejudice, 1813
Rejects pretentious elegance that causes suffering to respectable people.
In simple terms: Refuses false elegance that hurts others.
Key Takeaway
Choose genuine humility.
Themes
humility
integrity
social critique
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- social gatherings
- courtship
- personal reputation
- ethical choices
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
class critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What is true elegance?
- How can we avoid harming others while seeking refinement?
A Different Perspective
Some may view elegance as necessary for status.
![“An honest, sensible, humane man, . . . laboring to do good rather than be rich, to be useful rather than make a show, living in modest simplicity . . . is really the most respectable man in society, [and] makes himself and all about him most happy.” quote by John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1c1/john-adams-529_honest_an-honest-sensible-humane-man-laboring-t_2273245.jpg)
![“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)
