You deserve a longer letter than this; but it is my unhappy fate seldom to treat people so well as they deserve.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker regrets not treating others as well as they deserve.
- In plain terms
- I do not treat people as well as they should be treated.
- What can you take from it?
- Regret over social shortcomings is common.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Do we deserve better treatment?
- How do we show gratitude?
Another view
It frames kindness as a misfortune.
More from Jane Austen
I do not want people to be very agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them a great deal.
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Permalink to quote #11 Next week I shall begin my operations on my hat, on which you know my principal hopes of happiness depend.
Permalink to quote #8
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