She is tolerable, I suppose, but not handsome enough to tempt me; I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me.
– Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 3. Mr. Darcy says this to Mr. Bingley about Elizabeth Bennet, when Bingley tries to persuade him to dance with her at the Meryton ball. Darcy’s claim that Elizabeth is not handsome enough to tempt him turns out to be very ironic, since he ends up falling in love with her and marrying her. But when he first meets her here, Darcy looks down his nose at Elizabeth without knowing her. His pride getting the better of him, he considers Elizabeth and the people of Meryton to be his social inferiors.