"I rather doubt that. You are very fond of bending little minds; but where little minds belong to rich people in authority, I think they have a knack of swelling out, till they are quite as unmanageable as great ones. I can imagine, that if you, as you are, Mr. Knightley, were to be transported and placed all at once in Mr. Frank Churchill's situation, you would be able to say and do just what you have been recommending for him; and it might have a very good effect. The Churchills might not have a word to say in return; but then, you would have no habits of early obedience and long observance to break through. To him who has, it might not be so easy to burst forth at once into perfect independence, and set all their claims on his gratitude and regard at nought. He may have as strong a sense of what would be right, as you can have, without being so equal under particular circumstances to act up to it." (Chapter 18)

Emma speaking to Mr. Knightly about Frank Churchill—I don’t think Emma is criticizing Mr. Knightley but she might as well be speaking of herself. Emma surely is also fond of a little mind bending—Harriet. I do not suggest Emma has a little mind but hers is often so swollen it is quite unmanageable—Mr. Knightly attempting to convince her Elton will not do for Harriet in Chapter 8 and his brother trying to alert Emma to the fact Mr. Elton is ogling her and she is too attentive to him in Chapter 13. In Chapter 4 Emma imagines if she was in Harriet’s place she would have found out who her parents are and I dare say she has no early habits of obedience and long observance to break though—I am not suggesting Emma is or was disrespectful to her father or Poor Miss Taylor (as was) but she has been running circles around them for a very long time. If Emma ruminations on Mr. Knightley are correct then they are somewhat alike. (;D)