There is so much of gratitude or vanity in almost every attachment, that it is not safe to leave any to itself. We can all BEGIN freely--a slight preference is natural enough; but there are very few of us who have heart enough to be really in love without encouragement. In nine cases out of ten a women had better show MORE affection than she feels. Bingley likes your sister undoubtedly; but he may never do more than like her, if she does not help him on.

Summary

This quote by Jane Austen highlights the ambivalence and fragility of human attachments. Austen asserts that attachments often contain elements of gratitude or vanity, making it risky to let them develop on their own. She suggests that although initial fondness or a slight preference is normal, true love requires encouragement and effort. Austen presents a somewhat cynical view, suggesting that it is often necessary for a woman to demonstrate more affection than she genuinely feels in order to secure the affection of a man. She warns that without assistance, an attachment may never progress beyond a mere liking.

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