Quote from Mansfield Park

"I can never be important to any one."

"What is to prevent you?"

"Everything--my situation--my foolishness and awkwardness."

"As to your foolishness and awkwardness, my dear Fanny, believe me, you never have a shadow of either, but in using the words so improperly. There is no reason in the world why you should not be important where you are known. You have good sense, and a sweet temper, and I am sure you have a grateful heart, that could never receive kindness without wishing to return it. I do not know any better qualifications for a friend and companion."

~Conversation between Fanny and Edmund in Mansfield Park

Have you ever been in a new place and nothing goes your way and you just wish one person would be nice to you? That is exactly what happens to Fanny. And Edmund her cousin says the most wonderful things to her. Because I do not know about you but I feel completely awkward about 70% of the time. And if just one of those times I had an Edmund by my side telling me how fantastic I was... wow life would be good. I am really tempted to take Fanny's name out of this quote and putting my name instead and hanging it on my mirror. Ya that is how much I love this quote! Its quirky of me I know. But its kind of like Jane is talking to us 200 years ago saying that everyone is good and deserves kindness and to not fret about the future. That girls 200 years ago still had similar troubles to what we are facing to day. An awkward unfriendly situation today is still the same as it would be in 1800. Except we look different, speak different, and listen to different things and yet the subject or over all purpose is the same. Jane's stuff goes on for ages.

Happy reading!

Jessica