"I admire the activity of your benevolence," observed Mary, "but every impulse of feeling should be guided by reason; and, in my opinion, exertion should always be in proportion to what is required."
– Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 7. Mary Bennet says this to Elizabeth on her decision to brave the three miles of mud to Netherfield to see their sick sister Jane. While Mary admires Elizabeth for this, she comes up with a rather weak reasoning not to accompany Elizabeth on the walk.