Ah! candid and unadulterated mind! you have learned early to reflect; but take care lest this habit, hitherto so well applied, should totally unfit you for society. It will strew thorns in your path, while other young women of your age seek only flowers. By imagining yourself in the place of others, as you now continually do, you will learn to feel for all the unhappy, or even for those who appear so; whereas it might save a great deal of (for the most part useless) pain, if you could contrive to feel only for yourself. Charlotte Turner Smith
About This Quote

The quote by J.C.B. Ritchie is a great example of a person who did not learn to reflect on their own behavior and actions, but rather on the behavior and actions of others. It shows how a person can grow to become so caught up in the opinions of other that they fail to do what is best for themselves. In this case, it shows how a young woman would actually learn to feel for all the unfortunate people in her life if she could only get over her habit of always comparing herself to other women.

She could learn from others' mistakes without constantly feeling like she was in competition with them. She could learn not to be so selfish and to put others before herself, but instead work to make her life better for herself rather than others.

Source: Marchmont

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