accomplishment
“I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine,” says Elizabeth on Mr. Darcy’s demeanor. Her sister, Mary, chimes in. She believes that pride is human nature, but vanity and pride are different things. “Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us” (21). Thus, externally, vanity is the illusion of importance, while justified pride makes one truly worthy. And what justifies pride? Accomplishment. This accomplishment does not necessarily correlate to material skills, but rather the development of the mind, intellect, and wisdom; a “real superiority of the mind”.
“Oh! certainly,” cried his faithful assistant, “no one can be really esteemed accomplished, who does not greatly surpass what is usually met with. A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the word will be but half deserved.”
“All this she must possess,” added Darcy, “and to all this she must yet add something more substantial, in the improvement of her mind by extensive reading.” (39)
Yes, vanity is a weakness indeed. But pride—where there is a real superiority of the mind, pride will be always under good regulation. (56)
The way one conducts oneself in society is important. Many characters make fools of themselves due to their vanity and their desire to appear superior to others without actually developing their minds.
principles
Mr. Darcy values principles and conduct which adheres consistently to them. He values consistency between words and actions, and internal states and words.