Falling in love Quote by Jane Austen
““Whether she thought of him so much, while she drank her warm wine and water, and prepared herself for bed, as to dream of him when there, cannot be ascertained; but I hope it was no more than in a slight slumber, or a morning doze at most; for if it be true, as a celebrated writer has maintained, that no young lady can be justified in falling in love before the gentleman's love is declared, it must be very improper that a young lady should dream of a gentleman before the gentleman is first known to have dreamt of her.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Emma, 1815
The passage suggests that a young woman dreaming of a man before mutual affection is declared is socially improper, reflecting strict courtship norms.
In simple terms: Dreaming of love before it’s reciprocated is considered improper.
Key Takeaway
Respect mutual courtship expectations.
Themes
courtship
social norms
romance
gender roles
etiquette
Mood
nostalgic
analytical
Type
literary
historical
When to use this quote
- Romantic relationships
- social gatherings
- personal introspection
- letter writing
Key Concepts
Victorian propriety
unrequited love
social expectations
Questions to Reflect On
- Do we still enforce unspoken romantic rules?
- How have courtship expectations evolved?
A Different Perspective
Modern readers may view such constraints as outdated.
![“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)
