Believe Quote by Jane Austen
“She would have liked to know how he felt as to a meeting. Perhaps indifferent, if indifference could exist under such circumstances. He must be either indifferent or unwilling. Has he wished ever to see her again, he need not have waited till this time; he would have done what she could not but believe that in his place she should have done long ago, when events had been early giving him the indepencence which alone had been wanting.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Pride and Prejudice, 1813
The narrator ponders a man's ambiguous feelings, questioning whether he is indifferent or unwilling, and reflects on missed opportunities and timing.
In simple terms: She wonders if he truly cares or just pretends.
Key Takeaway
Consider how assumptions about others' feelings can cloud judgment.
Themes
relationships
miscommunication
timing
Mood
uncertain
contemplative
Type
literary
analytical
When to use this quote
- courtship
- friendship
- professional negotiations
- family discussions
Key Concepts
emotional intelligence
perception
expectation
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence supports his indifference?
- How might you clarify his true intentions?
A Different Perspective
Assuming indifference may ignore deeper motives or external constraints.
![“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)
