“ Poverty is exactly what I have determined against. Honesty, in the something between, in the middle state of worldly circumstances, is all that I am anxious for your not looking down on. ”
Jane Austen, Mansfield Park (1814). copy citation
| Author | Jane Austen |
|---|---|
| Source | Mansfield Park |
| Topic | poverty state |
| Date | 1814 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | |
| Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/files/141/141-h/141-h.htm |
Context
“Be honest and poor, by all means—but I shall not envy you; I do not much think I shall even respect you. I have a much greater respect for those that are honest and rich. ” “ Your degree of respect for honesty, rich or poor, is precisely what I have no manner of concern with. I do not mean to be poor. Poverty is exactly what I have determined against. Honesty, in the something between, in the middle state of worldly circumstances, is all that I am anxious for your not looking down on. “ But I do look down upon it, if it might have been higher. I must look down upon anything contented with obscurity when it might rise to distinction. ” “ But how may it rise? How may my honesty at least rise to any distinction? ” “ Oh! ” of some length from the fair lady before she could add, “ You ought to be in parliament, or you should have gone into the army ten years ago. ””
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