The Other Bennet Sister

by Janice Hadlow

To be poor and handsome is misfortune enough; but to be penniless and plain is a hard fate indeed.

Seriousness seemed the only mood a plain girl might adopt without exposing herself to the scorn or pity of others.

Perhaps his character had a disposition to melancholy.

An exploration of the nature of happiness could add to her understanding of her own situation, and might even counter her own strong tendency to despair.

“Aristotle tells us we can be truly happy only when we are virtuous—and by that I think he means when we behave in a way that promotes our goodness, that brings out our best qualities.”

“That is the power of poetry,” he said simply. “It allows us to imagine ourselves anew, if we will permit it to do so. It reveals to us the hidden wishes of our hearts.”

“for where there is no willingness to make an effort, there is usually little likelihood of success.”