Sense and Sensibility Mrs. Dashwood Quotes

"It is enough," said she; "to say that he is unlike Fanny is enough. It implies everything amiable. I love him already."

"I think you will like him," said Elinor, "when you know more of him."

"Like him!" replied her mother with a smile. "I can feel no sentiment of approbation inferior to love."

"You may esteem him."

"I have never yet known what it was to separate esteem and love." (3.8)

Mrs. Dashwood's vision of love, and personal relationships in general, is much more loose and all-encompassing than Elinor's – basically, "love" and "like" are confused in her book. She's willing to "love" anyone, while Elinor has positive feelings broken down more specifically into the intellectual and emotional ("esteem" versus "love").

Mrs. Dashwood

Quote 2

"I have not wanted syllables where actions have spoken so plainly." (15.14)

Mrs. Dashwood is willing to accept actions and implications rather than actual declarations – a dangerous tactic in this proper, convention-bound society.

"We think now" -- said Mr. Dashwood, after a short pause, "of Robert's marrying Miss Morton."

Elinor, smiling at the grave and decisive importance of her brothers tone, calmly replied –

"The lady, I suppose, has no choice in the affair."

"Choice! -- how do you mean?"

"I only mean, that I suppose from your manner of speaking, it must be the same to Miss Morton whether she marry Edward or Robert."

"Certainly, there can be no difference; for Robert will now to all intents and purposes be considered as the eldest son; and as to anything else, they are both very agreeable young men -- I do not know that one is superior to the other." (41.15)

John makes his thoughts on marriage abundantly clear here – it's really just business, and the parties involved basically don't even have to take an interest in each other personally. We assume that this is how John and Fanny ended up married.