"A woman, especially, if she have the misfortune of knowing anything, should conceal it as well as she can"

This quote by Jane Austen talks to the social expectations of women in the 19th century. Females were expected to be subservient to men and to remain ignorant of any knowledge that was deemed too complicated for them to comprehend. Austen is recommending that if a lady does have knowledge, she must hide it in order to avoid criticism and judgement from those around her. This quote shows the patriarchal society of the time, where women were not viewed as equals to guys and were anticipated to remain in the background. Austen's quote is a tip of the minimal opportunities readily available to females in the 19th century and the importance of ladies having the ability to reveal themselves and their understanding without fear of judgement. It is a pointer of the value of equality and the requirement for females to be able to express themselves easily without worry of criticism.