Affection Quote by Jane Austen
“If a woman conceals her affection with the same skill from the object of it, she may lose the opportunity of fixing him; and it will then be but poor consolation to believe the world equally in the dark. There is so much of gratitude or vanity in almost any attachment, that it is not safe to leave any to itself. We can all begin ‘freely’- as light preference is natural enough; but there are very few of us who have a heart enough to be really in love without encouragement.”
About This Quote
Suggests that hidden affection can prevent genuine love, and that attachments often mix gratitude and vanity, making unguarded love rare.
In simple terms: Secret love hinders true connection; love needs encouragement.
Key Takeaway
Encourage open, sincere affection.
Themes
love
honesty
vulnerability
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- courtship
- friendship
- family dynamics
Key Concepts
attachment
gratitude
vanity
authenticity
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you express love safely?
- What role does self‑esteem play in love?
A Different Perspective
May idealize love, ignoring practical concerns.
![“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)
