--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: feel that it had not been the most…" description: "\"“feel that it had not been the most direful mistake in his plan of education. Something must have been wanting within, or time would have worn away muc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac9/jane-austen-39_education_feel-that-it-had-not-been-the-most-diref_46282.jpg" --- # feel that it had not been the most direful mistake in his… ![“feel that it had not been the most direful mistake in his plan of education. Something must have been wanting within, or time would have worn away much of its ill effect. He feared that principle, active principle, had been wanting, that they had never been properly taught to govern their…” quote by Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac9/jane-austen-39_education_feel-that-it-had-not-been-the-most-diref_46282.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac9/jane-austen-39_education_feel-that-it-had-not-been-the-most-diref_46282.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac9/jane-austen-39_education_feel-that-it-had-not-been-the-most-diref_46282.jpg) > ““feel that it had not been the most direful mistake in his plan of education. Something must have been wanting within, or time would have worn away much of its ill effect. He feared that principle, active principle, had been wanting, that they had never been properly taught to govern their inclinations and tempers, by that sense of duty which can alone suffice. They had been instructed theoretically in their religion, but never required to bring it into daily practice. To be distinguished for elegance and accomplishments—the authorised object of their youth—could have had no useful influence that way, no moral effect on the mind. He had meant them to be good, but his cares had been directed to the understanding and manners, not the disposition; and of the necessity of self-denial and humility, he feared they had never heard from any lips that could profit them.”” [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author laments that education focused on intellect and etiquette, neglecting moral character, self-discipline, and humility, which he believes are essential for true virtue. **In simple terms:** Education lacks moral formation. Key Takeaway Intellectual training without virtue is hollow. Themes education morality character development humility self-discipline Mood reflective concerned thoughtful Type philosophical didactic When to use this quote - school curricula - parental guidance - religious instruction - youth development Key Concepts moral education character formation duty humility Practical Applications - designing holistic curricula - integrating ethics into teaching Questions to Reflect On - How can schools balance knowledge and character? - What practices foster humility in learners? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Denial Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/denial-humility-359355/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Feared Principle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feared-principle-676348/) [Humility Feared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility-feared-359353/) [Instructed Theoretically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instructed-theoretically-676350/) [Principle Wanting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle-wanting-676349/) [Sense Of Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-of-duty/) ## Related quotes > [“He feared that principle, active principle, had been wanting; that they had never been properly taught to govern their inclinations and tempers by that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/he-feared-that-principle-active-principle-had-been-wanting-that-they/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“that they had never been properly taught to govern their inclinations and tempers, by that sense of duty which can alone suffice. They had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/that-they-had-never-been-properly-taught-to-govern-their-inclinations/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“To be distinguished for elegance and accomplishments—the authorised object of their youth—could have had no useful influence that way, no moral effect on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/to-be-distinguished-for-elegance-and-accomplishments-the-authorised/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“He had meant them to be good, but his cares had been directed to the understanding and manners, not the disposition; and of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/he-had-meant-them-to-be-good-but-his-cares-had-been-directed-to-the/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“but his cares had been directed to the understanding and manners, not the disposition; and of the necessity of self-denial and humility, he feared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/but-his-cares-had-been-directed-to-the-understanding-and-manners-not/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [Our very business is to teach the great lesson of self-denial and humility to our people, and how unfit is it then that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/our-very-business-is-to-teach-the-great-lesson-of-self-denial-and/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [“What then? 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Go to church every time the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wilkerson/go-ahead-read-your-bible-through-in-a-year-from-a-sense-of-duty-pray/) [David Wilkerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wilkerson/) > [Courage that grows from constitution often forsakes a man when he has occasion for it; courage which arises from a sense of duty acts;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/courage-that-grows-from-constitution-often-forsakes-a-man-when-he-has/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [The enemy? His sense of duty was no less than yours, I deem. You wonder what his name is, where he came from. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/the-enemy-his-sense-of-duty-was-no-less-than-yours-i-deem-you-wonder/) [J. R. R. 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Something must have been wanting within, or time would have worn away much of its ill effect. He feared that principle, active principle, had been wanting, that they had never been properly taught to govern their inclinations and tempers, by that sense of duty which can alone suffice. They had been instructed theoretically in their religion, but never required to bring it into daily practice. To be distinguished for elegance and accomplishments—the authorised object of their youth—could have had no useful influence that way, no moral effect on the mind. 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