Mr. [Aldous] Huxley has been the alarming young man for a…
![“Mr. [Aldous] Huxley has been the alarming young man for a long time, a sort of perpetual clever nephew who can be relied on to flutter the lunch party. Whatever will he say next? How does he think of those things? He has been deplored once or twice, but feeling is in his favor: he is steadily…” quote by Elizabeth Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/203/elizabeth-bowen-1197_clever_mr-aldous-huxley-has-been-the-alarming-y_2740970.png)
“Mr. [Aldous] Huxley has been the alarming young man for a long time, a sort of perpetual clever nephew who can be relied on to flutter the lunch party. Whatever will he say next? How does he think of those things? He has been deplored once or twice, but feeling is in his favor: he is steadily read. He is at once the truly clever person and the stupid person's idea of the clever person; he is expected to be relentless, to administer intellectual shocks.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote satirically describes a perpetually clever yet possibly shallow intellectual figure, highlighting both admiration and criticism.
In simple terms: A witty but possibly shallow intellectual is both praised and mocked.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the dual perception of cleverness.
Themes
satire
perception
intellectualism
Mood
playful
critical
Type
satirical
observational
When to use this quote
- literary analysis
- media commentary
- social observation
Key Concepts
cultural critique
personality archetype
Questions to Reflect On
- How does society value cleverness versus authenticity?
- What risks arise from labeling someone as perpetually clever?
A Different Perspective
May overlook genuine depth in favor of novelty.