Love Quote by Jane Austen
““You should have distinguished,' replied Anne. 'You should not have suspected me now; the case so different, and my age so different. If I was wrong in yielding to persuasion once, remember that it was to persuasion exerted on the side of safety, not of risk. When I yielded, I thought it was to duty; but no duty could be called in aid here.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Persuasion by Jane Austen, 1817
A character reflects on past decisions, distinguishing between safe persuasion and risky duty, and questions the moral weight of past choices.
In simple terms: She doubts the moral value of past decisions.
Key Takeaway
Question past motives before acting.
Themes
duty
persuasion
self‑reflection
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- family expectations
- career choices
- ethical dilemmas
Key Concepts
moral ambiguity
personal agency
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “duty” mean to you?
- How do you separate safety from risk?
A Different Perspective
Past decisions may be judged differently with hindsight.
![“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)
