"Women who have had no lovers, or having had one, two or three, have not found a husband, have perhaps rather had a miss than a loss, as men go"

In this quote, author Samuel Richardson is suggesting that ladies who have not had any romantic partners or have only had a few, and have actually not had the ability to find a husband, may not have in fact lost anything. He suggests that this may be due to the requirements and expectations that guys have for prospective other halves. Richardson is highlighting the societal pressure for females to be wed and the idea that not being able to discover a spouse might not necessarily be a loss for these females. He is likewise talking about the double standards and minimal alternatives that women might deal with in regards to marriage.