Quote by Jane Austen
To come with a well-informed mind is to come with an inability of administering to the vanity of others, which a sensible person would always wish to avoid. A woman especially, if she have the misfortune of knowing anything, should conceal it as well as she can.
Summary
This quote, attributed to Jane Austen, signifies the societal expectation for women to downplay their intelligence and knowledge to avoid appearing arrogant or threatening to others' egos. It implies that being well-informed is seen as undesirable, specifically for women, who are encouraged to hide their intelligence to conform to societal norms. This quote highlights the prevailing gender biases and expectations that women faced during Austen's time, highlighting the importance placed on conforming to social expectations rather than embracing one's intellectual capabilities.
By Jane Austen