What does this quote from Pride and Prejudice mean?

Question

"Affectation of candour is common enough— one meets with it everywhere. But to be candid without ostentation or design— to take the good of everybody's character and make it still better, and say nothing of the bad— belongs to you alone." Thanks for any help!

Answer 1

affectation means "putting on a show"

candour means "frankness" or "straightforwardness" or sometimes "fairness"

the speaker here is saying that when people are speaking "candidly" and exhibiting fairness honesty and frankness, they are usually putting on a show

the speaker claims that the person he is talking to is "candid without ostentation or design (without showing off or having planned it or trying to get something from it)

the short modern version might be:
lots of people make a show of being honest and forthright but you do it naturally, nobody else does

and he adds that the frankness doesn't mean meanness (implying that some people speak rudely and use the excuse that they are "just being honest") by putting in the part about "take the good of everybody's character...and say nothing bad"

I hope this is helpful.
If you were hoping for some deep symbolic meaning, I don't think there is one, but some teachers are always looking for one

Answer 2

According to Collins Concise dictionary, "affectation" is an attitude or manner put on to impress others, "candour" means honest or straightfowardness of speech, "ostentation" is a pretentious, showy or vulgar display....so my guess would be something like - please excuse the cliches here, people can say they "say it how they see it", will "give it to you straight", "take no prisoners" or "put it bluntly" meaning that they will tell you the truth even it may not be what you want to hear, but to do that without using it as an excuse without put someone down, to do it in a positive way, is a rare thing. Or I could be completely wrong... good luck! Could try this link too:

Answer 3

Definition Of Affectation

Answer 4

This is basically saying that everyone can come across as honest, and forthright in their attitudes, but there are few that use this means of communication with the pure intent of making people realize how they themselves can make a difference in the world, making it better through self design.

It is easy to be brutally honest with someone, and hurt their feelings, and make them see the error of their thinking, but not as easy to do so in a way that relates to them that they are a good person who is merely confused about how they are communicating.

Answer 5

'Affectation of candour is common enough - one meets with it everywhere'

This means that the pretence of being truthful (but without being so) is a widespread vice, a common habit.

But to be candid without ostentation or design - to take the good of everybody's character and make it still better, and say nothing of the bad'

This means that to tell the truth without trying to take advantage of others and tell only good things about them and nothing bad is a quality of praising other's good points so as to make them look good but not to tell of any bad points they may have and make them look worse.

'belongs to you alone'

The speaker is saying that the person to whom he speaks is unique in being the only one who will tell the truth about someone but mentioning only good things and no bad ones.

Hope that helps

Answer 6

I think it means that a lot of people try to be sincere just on the outside to keep up appearances, but Jane is truly sincere without trying to be.

Answer 7

You see people pretending to be honest and sincere almost everywhere you go,but you are the only person who truely is honest and sincere