How the mother is to be pitied who hath handsome daughters! Locks, bolts, bars, and lectures of morality are nothing to them: they break through them all. They have as much pleasure in cheating a father and mother, as in cheating at cards.

Summary

This quote criticizes the predicament of a mother with attractive daughters, suggesting that their beauty carries negative consequences. The statement implies that attempts to control and protect them, through means such as enforcing rules, locking doors, or imparting values, are futile. The quote further suggests that these daughters derive equal enjoyment from deceiving their parents as they do from engaging in deceitful activities like cheating at cards. Ultimately, the quote reflects a cynicism towards attractive women and implies that beauty can lead to moral transgressions and manipulation.

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