Pamela Pride Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

I am content to take all the Blame upon me; as I have already borne too great a Share for what I have deserv'd. (18.12)

Here, Mr. B paints himself as the injured party because his pride and name are more important than Pamela's right to attempt to protect herself from attacks or unwanted advances. Gee, where'd we put that tiny violin?

Quote #5

For my part, I was dress'd out, only to be admir'd, as it seems; and truly, if I had not known, that I did not make myself, as you, my dear Father, once hinted to me; and if I had had the Vanity to think as well of myself, as the good Company was pleased to do, I might possibly have been proud. But I know, as my Lady Davers said, tho' in Anger, yet in Truth, that I am but a poor Bit of painted Dirt. All that I value myself upon, is, that God has raised me to a Condition to be useful in my Generation, to better Persons than myself. This is my Pride: And I hope this will be all my Pride. For what was I of myself!—All the Good I can do, is but a poor third-hand Good; for my dearest Master himself is but the Second-hand. GOD, the All-gracious, the All-good, the All-bountiful, the All-mighty, the All-merciful GOD, is the First: To HIM, therefore, be all the Glory! (103.2)

Next time you're all dolled up to go out on a Friday night, make sure you take a few minutes to look in the mirror and remind yourself that you're "but a poor Bit of painted Dirt." Don't want to get a swelled head, do you? Here, Pamela reminds herself that she is just "dirt" and that God (by way of Mr. B) is responsible for everything she has.

Quote #6

This is a sad Letter, my dear Father and Mother; and one may see how poor People are despised by the Proud and the Rich . . . (74.12)

Pamela is super bummed out after reading Lady Davers's letter to her brother, in which Lady Davers takes Mr. B to task for his behavior toward Pamela. The problem is that Lady Davers doesn't object about the morality of Mr. B's behavior but about the—let's call it propriety. She's ticked off that he's making people gossip about him and dirty up his family name. Pamela thinks this is prideful and snotty of her, and we have to agree.