Clarissa Principles Quotes

Lovelace is pleased as punch because he thinks Clarissa has prevented him from further mischief. But does it count if he's planning to do something extra-terrible? And do you really want to let your moral behavior be dictated by someone else?

Anna always sees right through Lovelace's schemes. Seems like she's subtly hinting that Clarissa's morals might easily be corrupted—even if she's the only one who thinks so. 

If we had to sum up Clarissa's approach to life in a word, "over-scrupulousness" wouldn't be a bad pick. Brain Snack: "over-scrupulousness" was a religious thing back in the eighteenth-century. It meant that you were just a leeeetle too concerned about following all the rules, and it was considered just about as bad as being a flat-out sinner. (Here's a modern look at it.)