JA's final word on Lady Russell is "if her second object was to be sensible and well-judging, her first was to see Anne happy. She loved Anne better than she loved her own abilities."

I think this is actually pretty high praise from JA, especially when you think of characters like General Tilney, Mrs. Ferrars, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and Sir Thomas Bertram, all parent-figures who give young people marital direction solely in order to prove a point or show who's boss.