Source identified
Read & copy the quotation
“If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more.”
- Source
- Emma
- Date
- 1815
- Local voice
- Fictional character · George Knightley
Meaning of “If I loved you less, I might be…”
The difficulty of speaking is used as evidence of emotional depth, contrasting sincere feeling with polished or excessive declaration.
Where does it come from?
Emma, Volume III, Chapter XIII, scan-backed 1816 John Murray first edition on Wikisource. George Knightley tells Emma “If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more” during his declaration, explicitly contrasting the depth of his feeling with his difficulty making polished speeches.
Why the local voice matters
Knightley says this directly to Emma during his declaration.
