Miniatures and Morals Quotes

“For Mary, the world is something to be mastered, manipulated, and made; for Fanny, the world is a gift to be received with thanksgiving. Fanny is the eucharistic heroine, giving thanks in all times and places.”
― Peter J. Leithart, Miniatures and Morals: The Christian Novels of Jane Austen

“Austen is a moralist, but, as John Lauber has put it, she is not a "punitive" moralist. Sometimes her villains receive no more serious punishment than to achieve their desires. Often that is punishment enough.”
― Peter J. Leithart, Miniatures and Morals: The Christian Novels of Jane Austen

“Anyone can discern the evils of the factory system or the Terror.
But it takes considerable wisdom to discern the evils embedded in the staccato blather of a seventeen-year-old girl.”
― Peter J. Leithart, Miniatures and Morals: The Christian Novels of Jane Austen

“Significantly for both Elizabeth and Darcy the one who challenges and wounds is the savior and the best lover. Not everyone in
the novel sees this truth. Miss Bingley thinks she can gain Darcy’s
affections by never crossing or disagreeing with him, much as Collins thinks he honors Lady Catherine by his irritating deference. For
a wise, insightful person, however, those who challenge, provoke,
and attack are most attractive and interesting. Elizabeth concludes
that this was the reason Darcy fell in love with her:

The fact is, that you were sick of civility, of deference, of officious
attention. You were disgusted with the women who were always
speaking and looking, and thinking for your approbation alone. I
roused, and interested you, because I was so unlike them. Had you
not been really amiable, you would have hated me for it; but in
spite of the pains you took to disguise yourself, your feelings were
always noble and just; and in your heart, you thoroughly despised
the persons who so assiduously courted you.”
― Peter J. Leithart, Miniatures and Morals: The Christian Novels of Jane Austen

“Balancing concealment and exposure is one of the trickiest problems in personal relations and in social life at large.”
― Peter J. Leithart, Miniatures and Morals: The Christian Novels of Jane Austen