--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Oh! My sweet Catherine, in your generous…" description: "\"“Oh! My sweet Catherine, in your generous heart I know it would signify nothing; but we must not expect such disinterestedness in many. As for myself, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca3/jane-austen-39_catherine_oh-my-sweet-catherine-in-your-generous-h_661379.jpg" --- # Oh! My sweet Catherine, in your generous heart I know it… ![“Oh! My sweet Catherine, in your generous heart I know it would signify nothing; but we must not expect such disinterestedness in many. As for myself, I am sure I only wish our situations were reversed. Had I the command of millions, were I mistress of the whole world, your brother would be my only…” quote by Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca3/jane-austen-39_catherine_oh-my-sweet-catherine-in-your-generous-h_661379.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca3/jane-austen-39_catherine_oh-my-sweet-catherine-in-your-generous-h_661379.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca3/jane-austen-39_catherine_oh-my-sweet-catherine-in-your-generous-h_661379.jpg) > ““Oh! My sweet Catherine, in your generous heart I know it would signify nothing; but we must not expect such disinterestedness in many. As for myself, I am sure I only wish our situations were reversed. Had I the command of millions, were I mistress of the whole world, your brother would be my only choice.”” [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 speaker envies the power and wealth of another, wishing to reverse roles for personal advantage. **In simple terms:** He wants to be in charge of the world to choose his own partner. Key Takeaway Desire for control can distort love. Themes love power jealousy social status Mood melancholic reflective Type literary dramatic When to use this quote - romantic rivalry - family expectations - wealth dynamics Key Concepts egoism reversal of fortune choice Questions to Reflect On - Would you choose love over power? - How does envy affect relationships? A Different Perspective Power can corrupt genuine affection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Generous heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generous-heart/) [Whole world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole-world/) ## Related quotes > [How difficult it is to get men to believe that any other man can or does act from disinterestedness!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-haydon/how-difficult-it-is-to-get-men-to-believe-that-any-other-man-can-or/) [Benjamin Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-haydon/) > [If you're deeply engaged in an event, you're part of it. But if you're outside of it, disinterested, you are the regard that registers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-swensen/if-you-re-deeply-engaged-in-an-event-you-re-part-of-it-but-if-you-re/) [Cole Swensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-swensen/) > [It is motive alone that gives real value to the actions of men, and disinterestedness puts the cap to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/it-is-motive-alone-that-gives-real-value-to-the-actions-of-men-and/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [The perfect disinterestedness and self-devotion of which men seem incapable, but which is sometimes found in women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/the-perfect-disinterestedness-and-self-devotion-of-which-men-seem/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [Self-interest speaks all manner of tongues and plays all manner of parts, even that of disinterestedness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/self-interest-speaks-all-manner-of-tongues-and-plays-all-manner-of/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [For instance, I never complained that my birthday was overlooked; people were even surprised, with a touch of admiration, by my discretion on this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/for-instance-i-never-complained-that-my-birthday-was-overlooked/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“No man is offended by another man's admiration of the woman he loves; it is the woman only who can make it a torment."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/no-man-is-offended-by-another-man-s-admiration-of-the-woman-he-loves/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“It is always good for young people to be put upon exerting themselves; and you know, my dear Catherine, you always were a sad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/it-is-always-good-for-young-people-to-be-put-upon-exerting-themselves/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“Her mother was a woman of useful plain sense, with a good temper, and, what is more remarkable, with a good constitution. She had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/her-mother-was-a-woman-of-useful-plain-sense-with-a-good-temper-and-2/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“The anxiety, which in this state of their attachment must be the portion of Henry and Catherine, and of all who loved either, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/the-anxiety-which-in-this-state-of-their-attachment-must-be-the/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [ Catherine had never wanted comfort more, and \[Henry\] looked as if he was aware of it. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/catherine-had-never-wanted-comfort-more-and-henry-looked-as-if-he-was/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy would have supposed her born to be an heroine. Her situation in life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/no-one-who-had-ever-seen-catherine-morland-in-her-infancy-would-have-3/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“Lady Catherine was extremely indignant on the marriage of her nephew; and as she gave way to all the genuine frankness of her character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/lady-catherine-was-extremely-indignant-on-the-marriage-of-her-nephew/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“Her mother was a woman of useful plain sense, with a good temper, and, what is more remarkable, with a good constitution. She had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/her-mother-was-a-woman-of-useful-plain-sense-with-a-good-temper-and/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy would have supposed her born to be an heroine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/no-one-who-had-ever-seen-catherine-morland-in-her-infancy-would-have-2/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) ## More by Jane Austen > [Let us have the luxury of silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/let-us-have-the-luxury-of-silence/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“How earnestly did she then wish that her former opinions had been more reasonable, more moderate!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/how-earnestly-did-she-then-wish-that-her-former-opinions-had-been/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“it is very well worth-while to be tormented for two or three years of one's life, for the sake of being able to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/it-is-very-well-worth-while-to-be-tormented-for-two-or-three-years-of/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [ “Everybody is taken in at some period or another. \[...\] In marriage especially. \[...\] There is not one in a hundred of either sex,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/everybody-is-taken-in-at-some-period-or-another-in-marriage/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [She knew that what Marianne and her mother conjectured one moment, they believed the next: that with them, to wish was to hope, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/she-knew-that-what-marianne-and-her-mother-conjectured-one-moment/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“…for I look upon the Frasers to be about as unhappy as most other married people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/for-i-look-upon-the-frasers-to-be-about-as-unhappy-as-most-other/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“It raises my spleen more than any thing, to have the pretence of being asked, of being given a choice, and at the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/it-raises-my-spleen-more-than-any-thing-to-have-the-pretence-of-being/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [her spirits wanted the solitude and silence which only numbers could give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/her-spirits-wanted-the-solitude-and-silence-which-only-numbers-could/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“But in such cases as these a good memory is unpardonable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/but-in-such-cases-as-these-a-good-memory-is-unpardonable/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“...the pleasantness of an employment does not always evince its propriety.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/the-pleasantness-of-an-employment-does-not-always-evince-its-propriety/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [Such squeamish youths as cannot bear to be connected with a little absurdity are not worth a regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/such-squeamish-youths-as-cannot-bear-to-be-connected-with-a-little/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“I must tell you what you will not ask, though I may wish it unsaid the next moment”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/i-must-tell-you-what-you-will-not-ask-though-i-may-wish-it-unsaid-the/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“Lady Catherine seemed quite astonished at not receiving a direct answer; and Elizabeth suspected herself to be the first creature who had ever dared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/lady-catherine-seemed-quite-astonished-at-not-receiving-a-direct/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“He had suffered, and he had learnt to think, two advantages that he had never known before…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/he-had-suffered-and-he-had-learnt-to-think-two-advantages-that-he-had/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“Vanity was the beginning and the end of Sir Walter Eliot's character; vanity of person and of situation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/vanity-was-the-beginning-and-the-end-of-sir-walter-eliot-s-character/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) [Explore all 2,013 Jane Austen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) ## More Catherine quotes > [“Defiance, Catherine, is a gift of God, who is superior to nature. When nature comes to get you, honor God by treating it, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-helprin/defiance-catherine-is-a-gift-of-god-who-is-superior-to-nature-when/) [Mark Helprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-helprin/) > [“I look into her excited eyes, and my mind finally acknowledges what my heart has known all along as the truth—I’m hers. I belong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-asher/i-look-into-her-excited-eyes-and-my-mind-finally-acknowledges-what-my/) [Mia Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-asher/) > [Acting is about giving yourself away, like the U2 song 'With or Without You.' You just don't stay behind a character and make people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-hicks/acting-is-about-giving-yourself-away-like-the-u2-song-with-or-without/) [Catherine Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-hicks/) > [“You didn’t slay a werewolf,” I breathed before repeating the words louder. “You did not slay a werewolf, Thaddeus.” “Oh, but I did. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/you-didn-t-slay-a-werewolf-i-breathed-before-repeating-the-words/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“She was just a simple, honest woman standing in the ruin of a late winter garden, waiting for the spring. “Catherine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-goolrick/she-was-just-a-simple-honest-woman-standing-in-the-ruin-of-a-late/) [Robert Goolrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-goolrick/) > [“I walked towards her. Jean-Claude grabbed my arm. "Do not harm her, Anita. She is under our protection." "I swear to you that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-walked-towards-her-jean-claude-grabbed-my-arm-do-not-harm-her-anita/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“When he finally broke off the kiss and moved his lips to her neck, then her breast again, sucking her nipples back to hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-dee/when-he-finally-broke-off-the-kiss-and-moved-his-lips-to-her-neck/) [Bonnie Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-dee/) > [Margaret Thatcher had more impact on the world than any woman ruler since Catherine the Great of Russia. Not only did she turn around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-johnson/margaret-thatcher-had-more-impact-on-the-world-than-any-woman-ruler/) [Paul Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-johnson/) > [Catherine Zeta-Jones started out like me. Her big break in Hollywood was in 'Zorro.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-griffiths/catherine-zeta-jones-started-out-like-me-her-big-break-in-hollywood/) [Lucy Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-griffiths/) > [“No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy would have supposed her born to be an heroine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/no-one-who-had-ever-seen-catherine-morland-in-her-infancy-would-have-2/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“To my lady Catherine, I give you gold with a diamond you can barely see, But the gem would be castle-sized if it expressed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-c-andrews/to-my-lady-catherine-i-give-you-gold-with-a-diamond-you-can-barely/) [V.C. Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-c-andrews/) > [He had been content with daily labour and rough animal enjoyments, 'till Catherine crossed his path. Shame at her scorn, and hope of her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/he-had-been-content-with-daily-labour-and-rough-animal-enjoyments/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [“Gaston Leroux claimed that Erik’s character was based on fact. In my novel, let your mind imagine that Catherine’s is too…if you dare!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha/gaston-leroux-claimed-that-erik-s-character-was-based-on-fact-in-my/) [Samantha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha/) > [When I had photographed Prince William's mother, I brought along a CD of Dalida, a French singer, that we played on set all day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-testino/when-i-had-photographed-prince-william-s-mother-i-brought-along-a-cd/) [Mario Testino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-testino/) > [“I’m not— Lady Macbeth Lucrezia Borgia Catherine the Great. I am —a woman doing what she has to do. I am —the woman you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-winslow/i-m-not-lady-macbeth-lucrezia-borgia-catherine-the-great-i-am-a-woman/) [Don Winslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-winslow/) Browse all 121 Catherine quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Oh! My sweet Catherine, in your generous heart I know it would signify nothing; but we must not expect such disinterestedness in many. As for myself, I am sure I only wish our situations were reversed. Had I the command of millions, were I mistress of the whole world, your brother would be my only choice.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jane Austen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/oh-my-sweet-catherine-in-your-generous-heart-i-know-it-would-signify/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Catherine" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/oh-my-sweet-catherine-in-your-generous-heart-i-know-it-would-signify/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca3/jane-austen-39_catherine_oh-my-sweet-catherine-in-your-generous-h_661379.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca3/jane-austen-39_catherine_oh-my-sweet-catherine-in-your-generous-h_661379.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca3/jane-austen-39_catherine_oh-my-sweet-catherine-in-your-generous-h_661379.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Oh! My sweet Catherine, in your generous heart I know it would signify nothing; but we must not expect such…” — Jane Austen", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jane Austen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Oh! My sweet Catherine, in your...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/oh-my-sweet-catherine-in-your-generous-heart-i-know-it-would-signify/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/oh-my-sweet-catherine-in-your-generous-heart-i-know-it-would-signify/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```