Pride ... and Prejudice

After years of watching film versions of Jane Austen, I am reading the great Pride and Prejudice with massive amounts of pleasure. This morning I ran across this quote, spoken by Lizzy to Jane when they are discussing Charlotte's marriage to Mr. Collins (who is always portrayed as a little twit in the movies but is actually a tall twit in the book).

"You shall not, for the sake of one individual, change the meaning of principle and integrity, nor endeavor to persuade yourself or me, that selfishness is prudence, and insensibility of danger security for happiness."

Ah, there is a world of wisdom in that quote, for all civilization.

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