Genteel.

Harriet: "Certainly, he is not like Mr. Knightley. He has not such a fine air and way of walking as Mr. Knightley. I see the difference plain enough. But Mr. Knightley is so very fine a man!"

Emma: "Mr. Knightley’s air is so remarkably good, that it is not fair to compare Mr. Martin with him. You might not see one in a hundred, with gentleman so plainly written as in Mr. Knightley."

Not to be duplicated.

Emma: ". . . Mr. Knightley’s downright, decided, commanding sort of manner -- though it suits him very well; his figure and look, and situation in life seem to allow it; but if any young man were to set about copying him, he would not be sufferable."

Kind.

"I know no man more likely than Mr. Knightley to do the sort of thing -- to do any thing really good-natured, useful, considerate, or benevolent. He is not a gallant man, but he is a very humane one; and this, considering Jane Fairfax’s ill health, would appear a case of humanity to him; - and for an act of unostentatious kindness, there is nobody whom I would fix on more than on Mr. Knightley."

In control.

Emma: "That's easily said, and easily felt by you, who have always been your own master. You are the worst judge in the world, Mr. Knightley, of the difficulties of dependence. You do not know what it is to have tempers to manage."

Honorable.

"There is one thing, Emma, which a man can do, if he chuses, and that is, his duty; not by manoevring and finessing, but by vigour and resolution."

Sexy.

... Emma was smiling with enjoyment, delighted to see the respectable length of the set as it was forming, and to feel that she had so many hours of unusual festivity before her. -- She was more disturbed by Mr. Knightley’s not dancing, than by anything else -- There he was, among the standers-by, where he ought not to be; he ought to be dancing, -- not classing himself with the husbands, and fathers, and whist-players, who were pretending to feel an interest in the dance till their rubbers were made up, -- so young as he looked! -- He could not have appeared to greater advantage perhaps anywhere, than where he had placed himself. His tall, firm, upright figure, among the bulky forms and stooping shoulders of the elderly men, was such as Emma felt must draw everybody’s eyes; and, excepting her own partner, there was not one among the whole row of young men who could be compared with him. -- He moved a few steps nearer, and those few steps were enough to prove in how gentlemanlike a manner, with what natural grace, he must have danced, would be but take the trouble. -- Whenever she caught his eyes, she forced him to smile; but in general he was looking grave. She wished he could love a ballroom better, and could like Frank Churchill better. -- He seemed often observing her. She must not flatter herself that he thought of her dancing, but if he were criticising her behaviour, she did not feel afraid.

Protective.

He remained at Hartfield after all the rest, his thoughts full of what he had seen; so full, that when the candles came to assist his observations, he must -- yes, he certainly must, as a friend -- an anxious friend -- give Emma some hint, ask her some question. He could not see her in a situation of such danger, without trying to preserve her. It was his duty.

The Perfect Man.

"I hope you will bring Elton," said he: -- "but I will not trouble you to give any other invitations."

"Oh! no you are looking very sly. But consider; -- you need not be afraid of delegating power to me. I am no young lady on her preferment. Married women, you know, may be safely authorized. It is my party. Leave it all to me. I will invite your guests."

"No," -- he calmly replied, -- "there is but one married woman in the world whom I can allow to invite what guests she pleases to Donwell, and that one is --"

"-- Mrs. Weston, I suppose," interrupted Mrs. Elton, rather mortified.

"No -- Mrs. Knightley; -- and, till she is in being, I will manage such matters myself."

	"Emma" Quotes Main Page