How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
"In my experience, a woman is either highly trained or highly refined. One cannot afford the luxury of both in such times. As for my sisters and I, our dear father thought it best that we give less of our time to books and music, and more to protecting ourselves from the sorry stricken." (8.45)
Elizabeth has a point here. After Mr. Darcy goes down his list of all the qualities a woman needs to be "accomplished," Elizabeth tells him that's nonsense. She only had time to get good at one thing: mowing down the undead. Does he really think knowing how to play the pianoforte is gonna help when a horde of zombies is busting down your door?
Quote #5
"I certainly have not the talent which some people possess," said Darcy, "of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I cannot catch their tone of conversation, or appear interested in their concerns, as I often see done."
"My fingers," said Elizabeth, "do not possess the strength your aunt's do. They have not the same force or rapidity, and do not produce the same deadly results. But then I have always supposed it to be my own fault—because I will not take the trouble of practising." (31.24-25)
Burn. Elizabeth basically tells Mr. Darcy something he must already know: no one gets good at anything without practicing. She didn't learn to be a warrior without honing her skills, and he's not gonna be any good at chatting people up without working on it first. Gauntlet thrown.
Quote #6
Elizabeth had frequently united with Jane in punishing the imprudence of Catherine and Lydia with wet bamboo; but while they were supported by their mother's indulgence, what chance could there be of improvement? Catherine, undisciplined, irritable, and completely under Lydia's guidance, had been always affronted by their attempts at correcting her; and Lydia, self-willed and dimwitted, would scarcely give them a hearing. They were ignorant, idle, and vain. While Meryton was within a walk of Longbourn, they would be going there forever, killing zombies only when it interfered with their chances of flirting with an officer. (37.17)
Sure, all the Bennet sisters have been trained in the deadly arts, but some of them are more serious about it than others. Kitty and Lydia can kill a zombie, but they don't have the discipline and dedication that Elizabeth and Jane do. No wonder Lydia winds up in such trouble.