A Man, If He Chooses

Like Mr. Martin of whom he, himself speaks, Mr. Knightley is full of wisdom.

'There is one thing, Emma, which a man can always do if he chooses, and that is, his duty; not by manuevering and finessing, but by vigor and resolution... If he wished to do it, it might be done.'

'...A sensible man would find no difficulty in it. He would feel himself in the right; and the declaration -- made, of course, as a man of sense would make it, in proper manner -- would do him more good, raise him higher, fix his interest stronger with the people he depended on, than all that a line of shifts and expedients can ever do. Respect would be added to affection. They would feel that they could trust him... Respect for right conduct is felt by everybody. If he would act in this sort of manner, on principle, consistently, regularly, their little minds would bend to his.'

...

'Your amiable young man is a very weak young man, if this be the first occasion of his carrying through a resolution to do right against the will of others. It ought to have been a habit with him by this time, of following his duty, instead of consulting expediency. I can allow for the fears of the child, but not of the man. As he became rational, he ought to have roused himself and shaken off all that was unworthy in their authority.'

Mr. Knightly, c/o Miss Austen