--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To be distinguished for elegance and…" description: "\"“To be distinguished for elegance and accomplishments—the authorised object of their youth—could have had no useful influence that way, no moral effect..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7e/jane-austen-39_beauty_to-be-distinguished-for-elegance-and-acc_2437497.jpg" --- # To be distinguished for elegance and accomplishments—the… ![“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…” quote by Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7e/jane-austen-39_beauty_to-be-distinguished-for-elegance-and-acc_2437497.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7e/jane-austen-39_beauty_to-be-distinguished-for-elegance-and-acc_2437497.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7e/jane-austen-39_beauty_to-be-distinguished-for-elegance-and-acc_2437497.jpg) > ““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. Youth should prioritize moral character over superficial elegance and achievements. **In simple terms:** Character matters more than style. Key Takeaway Cultivate humility and moral strength. Themes humility self‑denial character development Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - education - parenting - career mentorship - self‑improvement Key Concepts moral philosophy social expectations personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What values should youth prioritize? - How can humility be taught without discouragement? A Different Perspective Emphasizing humility may suppress healthy self‑esteem. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Denial Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/denial-humility-359355/) [Distinguished Elegance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinguished-elegance-359356/) [Elegance Accomplishments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elegance-accomplishments-359354/) [Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility/) [Humility Feared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility-feared-359353/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Moral Effect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-effect-359357/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [“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/) > [“that they had never been properly taught to govern their inclinations and tempers, by that sense of duty which can alone suffice. 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What a horrible thing to do to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everyone-will-admire-you-when-you-do-well-what-a-horrible-thing-to-do/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [You just have to stay humble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-jackson/you-just-have-to-stay-humble/) [Lamar Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-jackson/) ## 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 Beauty quotes > [We do not want nowadays temples of worship and outward rites and ceremonies. 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