Adieu to disappointment and spleen. What are young men to rocks and mountains?
– Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 27. Elizabeth says this to Mrs. Gardiner, when her aunt invites her to join her on a trip to the Lake District. Disappointed with men and frustrated with romance, Elizabeth jumps at the opportunity to get away from it all amid the beauty of nature. Rocks and mountains are more durable and dependable than young men, she believes.