Civility Quote by Jane Austen
“They parted at last with mutual civility, and possibly a mutual desire of never meeting again.”
About This Quote
A brief, bittersweet conclusion to a relationship, emphasizing polite separation and a shared wish to avoid future encounters.
In simple terms: Polite parting with lingering distance.
Key Takeaway
Graceful endings can carry unspoken finality.
Themes
relationships
closure
civility
finality
emotional restraint
Mood
melancholy
reflective
reserved
Type
narrative
observational
When to use this quote
- after a long friendship ends
- post‑breakup conversation
- final meeting before moving on
Key Concepts
mutual respect
unspoken tension
Practical Applications
- writing a character's farewell scene
- advising on diplomatic disengagement
Questions to Reflect On
- What does civility mask in this parting?
- How does the desire to not meet again shape future interactions?
![“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)
![“[T]he politically correct are above the rules of ordinary civility, once they have identified you as an unbeliever in their religion.” quote by Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/abd/orson-scott-card-134_civility_t-he-politically-correct-are-above-the-r_75276.jpg)