Jane Austen Quotes

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 31. Darcy smiles as he says this to Elizabeth in defense of his social awkwardness. It is an ambiguous line that has been the subject of much debate as to how it should be interpreted. It comes after Elizabeth has been teasing Darcy for being rude and refusing to dance with anyone outside his own party at the ball at Meryton. Darcy ends the conversational sparring with a kind word diffusing the situation. The line suggests an intimacy between them and a moment of connection, with Darcy using the word "we" and essentially saying that he and Elizabeth are the same. This is the full quote of what Darcy says: "You are perfectly right. You have employed your time much better. No one admitted to the privilege of hearing you can think anything wanting. We neither of us perform to strangers."