I possessed everything they wanted; but then I had no motive - I had nothing to desire.
This is the main issue and the main cause of the ennui, the absence of motivation to achieve, to do, to have anything. Despite it having a humorous tone at first, it proves to be extremely serious when Lord Glenthorn falls into such a state of depression that he becomes suicidal. At the end, it is this motivation, desire to achieve and to have that turns his life around.
As I returned home, I began to perceive that there was some difference between woman and woman, beside the distinctions of rank, fortune and figure.
Although it may seem that at first our protagonist has a misogynistic view of women, his behavior towards them proves otherwise. He is a character whose private thoughts in general are in contradiction to his behavior, and in the most positive way. Despite marrying his first wife for money, or to meet the expectations of others to marry, he treats her with the utmost respect and consideration, even faced with divorce. He respects and falls in love with Lady Geraldine for her intellect and wits, and respects her choice of another man, even helping them to be together. Therefore, these words seem as more of him trying to be witty and funny accordingly to the time he lives in, than his real opinion of women.
"Tis a pity, my lord," said M'Leod, "but that there was a conspiracy against you every day of your life, it seems to do you so much good."
Lord Glenthorn has always been stuck in a life with no purpose, his life being already set and planned. Everything in his life became predictable, lacking excitement. This is why any form of excitement, danger, where his senses wake up, and he is relieved from ennui, makes him appreciate his life and give him purpose. Anything that basically helps him escape out of his own head, even a threat to his own life, does him good. How can he appreciate what he has, when he didn't experience the hardships of acquiring it?
