When I meet a pretty girl and beg her: "Be so good as to…
““When I meet a pretty girl and beg her: "Be so good as to come with me," and she walks past without a word, this is what she means to say: "You are no Duke with a famous name, no broad American with Red Indian figure, level, brooding eyes and a skin tempered by the air of the prairies and the rivers that flow through them, you have never journeyed to the seven seas and voyaged on them wherever they may be, I don't know where. So why, pray, should a pretty girl like myself go with you?" "You forget that no automobile swings you through the street in long thrusts; I see no gentlemen escorting you in a close half-circle, pressing on your skirts from behind and murmuring blessings on your head; your breasts are well laced into your bodice, but your thighs and hips make up for that restraint; you are wearing a taffeta dress with a pleated skirt such as delighted all of us last autumn, and yet you smile-inviting mortal danger-from time to time." "Yes, we're both in the right, and to keep us from being irrevocably aware of it, hadn't we better just go our separate ways home?””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A woman rejects a suitor, highlighting superficial expectations and the absurdity of social rituals.
In simple terms: She turns him down because he lacks status and adventure.
Key Takeaway
Recognize true worth beyond appearances.
Themes
social expectations
rejection
absurdity
status
gender roles
Mood
wry
critical
thoughtful
Type
literary
satirical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- courtship
- first impressions
- social gatherings
- personal confidence
- self‑esteem
Key Concepts
existentialism
social critique
identity
power dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this reveal about societal values?
- How do we judge worth?
A Different Perspective
The humor may mask deeper gender power dynamics.