What does Mr. Bennet mean here?

[Juliana]

"I know that you could be neither happy nor respectable, unless you truly esteemed your husband; unless you looked up to him as a superior. Your lively talents would place you in the greatest danger in an unequal marriage."

[Anne]

Are you querying what Mr Bennet means by 'respectable'? If so my take on it is that in making an alliance with a man of inferior abilities, Elizabeth might be in danger of being seen to despise her husband and risk making a laughing stock of their marriage.

[Juliana]

Anne wrote: "Are you querying what Mr Bennet means by 'respectable'? If so my take on it is that in making an alliance with a man of inferior abilities, Elizabeth might be in danger of being seen to despise her..."

I'm wondering what he means by looking up to him as a superior. There are a few different ways it could be interpreted so I was just curious.

[Susie]

I believe it means someone she can learn from because he has superior knowledge and abilities in certain areas. It brings to mind this realization from Elizabeth: "She began now to comprehend that he was exactly the man who, in disposition and talents, would most suit her. His understanding and temper, though unlike her own, would have answered all her wishes. It was an union that must have been to the advantage of both; by her ease and liveliness, his mind might have been softened, his manners improved; and from his judgment, information, and knowledge of the world, she must have received benefit of greater importance."

[Anne]

Also, Mr Bennet has reason of his own to know the pain of a marriage of very unequal minds, and makes no bones of his contempt for Mrs Bennet's intellectual capacities. He would not wish the same fate for his favourite child.

[Kelsey]

Juliana wrote: ""I know that you could be neither happy nor respectable, unless you truly esteemed your husband; unless you looked up to him as a superior. Your lively talents would place you in the greatest dange..."

He's saying he knows Elizabeth wouldn't be happy to settle in marriage as he did. She would need someone on her level, so to speak, to not regret her decision. "Your lively talent...": He thinks very highly of Lizzy and thinks no one is her superior, or even her equal for that matter. Lizzy's wit and good humor makes her a very desirable partner and infinitely superior to many other people. Mr. Bennett always praises Lizzy for her sense while scolding his other daughters for their lack of social skills and intelligence. Basically, Lizzy should be able to pick and choose, as they say, because despite her poverty, she is very much a better woman than most.