There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises with every attempt to intimidate me.
Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice, Chapter XXXI (1813)
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When and why it was written
- When
- From Pride and Prejudice, published in 1813.
- Why
- Elizabeth Bennet says it to Darcy while playing the piano at Rosings.
What it means
Elizabeth turns stubbornness into a virtue. Pressure makes her steadier, not smaller.
It is a useful sentence to remember on days when someone else is trying to set the terms.
Our reading of the passage cited above, not a quotation from a commentary.
Read the source
Pride and Prejudice, 1813
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