over-niceness

A little silly soul, what troubles does she make to herself by her over-niceness! —

Clarissa Harlowe 2006

From her over-niceness arises my fear, more than from any extraordinary reason for resentment.

Clarissa Harlowe 2006

Yet he thinks he must excuse them, and censure her for over-niceness; for that he never saw men behave better, at least not them.

Clarissa Harlowe 2006

Hence its over-niceness, and its appeal to the ear rather than to the eye.

The Theory of the Theatre Clayton Hamilton

And sooner or later the Whole revenges itself, and the fine-fanciful fabric crumbles to ruin, just for lack of that which in our short-sighted over-niceness we have taken such mighty great pains to miss out.

The History of Sir Richard Calmady A Romance Lucas Malet 1891

Davenport informed me of it, and we both took the liberty of blaming the over-niceness of your scruples.

The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb — Volume 4 Poems and Plays Charles Lamb 1804

All my fear is, that, when she comes to the point, the over-niceness of her principles will make her waver, and want to go back: although her honour is my honour, you know, and mine is her's.

Clarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady — Volume 3 Samuel Richardson 1725

* Mr. Lovelace might have spared this caution on this occasion, since many of the sex [we mention it with regret] who on the first publication had read thus far, and even to the lady's first escape, have been readier to censure her for over-niceness, as we have observed in a former note, page 42, than him for artifices and exultations not less cruel and ungrateful, than ungenerous and unmanly.

Clarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady — Volume 3 Samuel Richardson 1725

And now, Belford, reflect upon the distance at which the watchful charmer had hitherto kept me: reflect upon my love, and upon my sufferings for her: reflect upon her vigilance, and how long I had laid in wait to elude it; the awe I had stood in, because of her frozen virtue and over-niceness; and that I never before was so happy with her; and then think how ungovernable must be my transports in those happy moments! —

Clarissa Harlowe 2006

All my fear is, that, when she comes to the point, the over-niceness of her principles will make her waver, and want to go back: although her honour is my honour, you know, and mine is her’s.

Clarissa Harlowe 2006