It would be mortifying to the feelings of many ladies, could they be made to understand how little the heart of a man is affected by what is costly or new in their attire... Woman is fine for her own satisfaction alone. No man will admire her the more, no woman will like her the better for it. Neatness and fashion are enough for the former, and a something of shabbiness or impropriety will be most endearing to the latter.

Summary

This quote by Jane Austen suggests that women often strive to impress others with their expensive or fashionable clothing, but men are hardly affected by it. Austen argues that women should dress for their own satisfaction alone, as no man will be more attracted to a woman based on her costly attire. Instead, neatness and fashion are sufficient to catch a man's attention. Additionally, Austen claims that a touch of shabbiness or uniqueness can be more appealing to other women, which implies that authenticity and individuality are valued over materialistic judgments.

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