“Surprises are foolish things. The pleasure is not enhanced, and the inconvenience is often considerable. I should have expected better judgment in Colonel Campbell.”
– Jane Austen
Emma, Chapter 26. Mr. Knightley says this to Emma about the surprise gift of a piano for Jane Fairfax, which many assume to be from Colonel Campbell. Knightley believes the Campbells should have given Jane better notice of it.