Caroline-bingley Quote by Jane Austen
““I should like balls infinitely better,' she replied, 'if they were carried on in a different manner; but there is something insufferably tedious in the usual process of such a meeting. It would surely be much more rational if conversation instead of dancing were made the order of they day.' 'Much more rational, my dear Caroline, I dare say, but it would not be near so much like a ball.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Emma by Jane Austen, 1815
Social gatherings could be more meaningful if conversation, not dance, were the focus, revealing deeper connections.
In simple terms: Conversation beats dancing for deeper interaction.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize meaningful dialogue over superficial rituals.
Themes
social norms
conversation
etiquette
Mood
thoughtful
lighthearted
Type
literary
social
When to use this quote
- dinner parties
- networking events
- formal gatherings
Key Concepts
feminist critique
social dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- What would a conversation‑first gathering look like?
- Can rituals be reimagined without losing charm?
A Different Perspective
Changing tradition may meet resistance from those who value ceremony.
![“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)
