No, Jane, no: this world is not the scene of fruition; do not attempt to make it so: nor of rest; do not turn slothful.
Chapter 34 · St John Rivers
Context
St. John responds to Jane's celebration of domestic happiness by warning her not to seek fulfillment or rest in this life, which he views as a place of labor and trial.
Analysis
The parallel structure ('not the scene of fruition... nor of rest') builds a double negation that leaves no space for earthly satisfaction—St. John's theology sees the world as purely instrumental, a place to work through before reaching heaven. The word 'slothful' reframes Jane's desire for rest as a moral failing, turning her longing for holiday into evidence of spiritual weakness. His metaphor denies the possibility that life can be both meaningful and enjoyable.
Essay Tip
Support a thesis that St. John represents a strand of Christianity Brontë critiques as life-denying—this quote shows him explicitly rejecting the value of present happiness in favor of deferred heavenly reward.