"I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library." "Pride and Prejudice"
1. Not every relationship is the same, but that doesn't make them wrong.
Jane and Mr. Bingley have a very different relationship than Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, but there is no doubt that they are both in love. We often want to create an equation for how a relationship should progress, or what feelings should look like, but the truth is no two relationships are the same. This doesn't make one method better than another.
2. Don't judge a book by its cover.
This may be an obvious one due to this article's title, but that doesn't make it any less true. Some people are not the best with first impressions, and Mr. Darcy is a perfect example of this. He states, "I certainly have not the talent which some people possess of conversing easily with those I have never seen before". At first, Mr. Darcy comes off as arrogant and distant, when in reality he is simply shy. If Elizabeth had not taken time to see past her initial introduction to him, they never would have ended up together.
3. Wait for someone who will pursue you (ladies).
One thing that makes "Pride and Prejudice" so romantic is the fact that Mr. Darcy never gave up pursuing Elizabeth, even after she rejected him at first. I know that today it's more "acceptable" for women to go after a man they want, however I still hold the traditional view that it is better to wait for someone who finds you intriguing enough to make the first moves. Now, that's not to say showing a bit of interest is a bad thing (Jane and Mr. Bingley's situation is a perfect example of this), but there is a line that when crossed, becomes desperation.
4. Be true to who you are, and don't settle for someone who can't appreciate that.
Mr. Darcy is not only attracted to Elizabeth's physical appearance, but also her mind and wit. She does not change the way she acts and does not pretend to be interested in things that she isn't simply to impress him. It's okay, even good, to have different interests. It adds to the relationship because you both have something to show the other -- the differences enhance the relationship.
