Young man Quote by Jane Austen
![“John Thorpe [...] was a stout young man of middling height, who, with a plain face and ungraceful form, seemed fearful of being too handsome unless he wore the dress of a groom, and too much like a gentleman unless he were easy where he ought to be civil, and impudent where he might be allowed to…” quote by Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/af6/jane-austen-39_young-man_john-thorpe-was-a-stout-young-man-of-mid_672494.jpg)
““John Thorpe [...] was a stout young man of middling height, who, with a plain face and ungraceful form, seemed fearful of being too handsome unless he wore the dress of a groom, and too much like a gentleman unless he were easy where he ought to be civil, and impudent where he might be allowed to be easy.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Pride and Prejudice, 1813
A young man worries about appearing too handsome or too genteel, showing social anxiety about fitting expectations
In simple terms: He is self‑conscious about his appearance and manners
Key Takeaway
Accept personal quirks without over‑adjusting
Themes
social anxiety
self‑image
class
Mood
thoughtful
reflective
Type
literary
character study
When to use this quote
- courtship
- social gatherings
- personal introductions
- self‑presentation
Key Concepts
identity
conformity
self‑consciousness
Questions to Reflect On
- What pressures shape our self‑presentation?
- How can we balance authenticity and social expectations?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on appearance can hinder authenticity
![“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)
![“The young man [Turgot] destined for an ecclesiastical career was placed within walls carefully designed to keep out all currents of new thought; his studies, his reading, his professors, his associates, all were combined to keep from him any results of observation or reflection save those…” quote by Andrew Dickson White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5d4/andrew-dickson-white-24254_associates_the-young-man-turgot-destined-for-an-ecc_3146.jpg)
![“[D]on't grow old. With age comes caution, which is another name for cowardice… Whatever else you do in life, don't cultivate a conscience. Without a conscience a man may never be said to grow old. This is an age of very old young men.” quote by Hesketh Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/076/hesketh-pearson-35291_age_d-on-t-grow-old-with-age-comes-caution-w_14010.jpg)
