---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They were rather handsome, had been…"
description: "\"“They were rather handsome, had been educated in one of the first private seminaries in town, had a fortune of twenty thousand pounds, were in the habi..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5be/jane-austen-39_habits_they-were-rather-handsome-had-been-educa_303880.jpg"
---

#  They were rather handsome, had been educated in one of the…

![“They were rather handsome, had been educated in one of the first private seminaries in town, had a fortune of twenty thousand pounds, were in the habit of spending more than they ought, and of associating with people of rank, and were therefore in every respect entitled to think well of…” quote by Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5be/jane-austen-39_habits_they-were-rather-handsome-had-been-educa_303880.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5be/jane-austen-39_habits_they-were-rather-handsome-had-been-educa_303880.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5be/jane-austen-39_habits_they-were-rather-handsome-had-been-educa_303880.jpg)

> ““They were rather handsome, had been educated in one of the first private seminaries in town, had a fortune of twenty thousand pounds, were in the habit of spending more than they ought, and of associating with people of rank, and were therefore in every respect entitled to think well of themselves, and meanly of others. T””

[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.

A wealthy, well‑educated man feels entitled to look down on others because of his status and spending habits.

**In simple terms:** He thinks he’s superior due to wealth and education.

Key Takeaway

Recognize humility despite privilege.

Themes

pride class social hierarchy humility

Mood

arrogant reflective

Type

literary character study

When to use this quote

- business networking
- high‑society events
- financial decision‑making
- social gatherings

Key Concepts

social class entitlement self‑perception

Questions to Reflect On

- How does privilege affect empathy?
- Can wealth coexist with humility?

A Different Perspective

His arrogance may blind him to genuine connections.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Handsome Educated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/handsome-educated-2897476/) [Private Seminaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/private-seminaries-2897479/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Seminaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seminaries-1308359/) [Seminaries Town](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seminaries-town-2897477/) [Town Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/town-fortune-2897478/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/)

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