Yet More Jane Austen

A particular passage from Pride & Prejudice, which I was reminded of elsewhere today. It's a succinct way of expressing something that I think I could've stood to learn a lot earlier in life.

#

“I certainly have not the talent which some people possess,” said Darcy, “of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I cannot catch their tone of conversation, or appear interested in their concerns, as I often see done.”

“My fingers,” said Elizabeth, “do not move over this instrument in the masterly manner which I see so many women’s do. They have not the same force or rapidity, and do not produce the same expression. But then I have always supposed it to be my own fault—because I would not take the trouble of practising. It is not that I do not believe my fingers as capable as any other woman’s of superior execution.”

#

And some people do, to continue the metaphor, have fingers which are not as capable. Or have decided, like Elizabeth and her piano-playing, that it's not worth their time to practice that particular skill, given limited time and various priorities. Or who have never received instruction, and find it difficult to pick tunes out by ear...

But for a lot of people? Practice is an option. I have gotten better at Social. It's a little bit instruction, and a whole lot of practice.