Jayne Eyre

Jayne Eyre [∞]

"If the entire world despised you and saw you as wicked, but your conscience absolved you of guilt, you would still have true peace." ~ Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

Aphorisms or adages, while memorable, have their limitations. They are not meant to be universally applied as absolute truths.

Charlotte Brontë’s stance toward Christianity was complicated. She didn’t openly rebel against it, but she certainly wrestled with the rigid and sometimes harsh expressions of faith she encountered, particularly within her family and society. Through her novels, she expressed a clear skepticism of conventional religious dogma, often portraying characters struggling with moral and spiritual dilemmas, some of which reflect her own tensions with institutional religion.

In works like Jane Eyre and Villette, Brontë explored themes of faith, morality, and the oppressive nature of religious institutions, all while presenting a vision of spirituality that was more personal and less institutionalized. She seemed to favor a deeper, individual connection with God, rather than strict adherence to formal doctrine.

Although Brontë questioned and critiqued certain aspects of Christianity, she did not fully reject it. Her writings reflect a personal faith, shaped by the emotional struggles and experiences she endured.

Thus, the quote above requires fuller context: "...but your own conscience [under God]..." Without this critical element, the adage risks being misinterpreted. In a world where God is excluded from the conversation, such a statement could easily shift from a critique of empty religiosity into an outright rebellion against divine authority, elevating personal autonomy and moral relativism.

When we ignore the limitations of adages, we risk misunderstanding their deeper meaning. Take, for example, the well-meaning but flawed phrase, "You can be anything you want to be." When removed from a healthy framework of influence and self-awareness, this advice can spiral into something absurd—or even dangerous, as in the case of someone who, influenced by external factors, whimsically wishes "I wish I were an Oscar Meyer wiener."