---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I admired Elsa Greer because she had…"
description: "\"“I admired Elsa Greer because she had guts, because she could fight, because she stood up to her tormentors and never quailed! But I admired Caroline C..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c9/agatha-christie-154_admired_i-admired-elsa-greer-because-she-had-gut_2992106.jpg"
---

#  I admired Elsa Greer because she had guts, because she…

![“I admired Elsa Greer because she had guts, because she could fight, because she stood up to her tormentors and never quailed! But I admired Caroline Crale because she didn’t fight, because she retreated into her world of half lights and shadows. She was never defeated because she never gave battle.” quote by Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c9/agatha-christie-154_admired_i-admired-elsa-greer-because-she-had-gut_2992106.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c9/agatha-christie-154_admired_i-admired-elsa-greer-because-she-had-gut_2992106.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c9/agatha-christie-154_admired_i-admired-elsa-greer-because-she-had-gut_2992106.jpg)

> ““I admired Elsa Greer because she had guts, because she could fight, because she stood up to her tormentors and never quailed! But I admired Caroline Crale because she didn’t fight, because she retreated into her world of half lights and shadows. She was never defeated because she never gave battle.””

[Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Two contrasting approaches to adversity: confronting it boldly or retreating into inner worlds, both can lead to resilience.

**In simple terms:** Facing or withdrawing from challenges can both be strong.

Key Takeaway

Respect diverse coping styles.

Themes

courage resilience identity

Mood

thoughtful dramatic

Type

literary character

When to use this quote

- personal crisis
- creative work
- mental health
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

psychology character study

Questions to Reflect On

- When is confrontation more effective than retreat?
- How does inner reflection foster growth?

A Different Perspective

Retreat may be seen as avoidance rather than strength.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Admired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admired/) [Admired Caroline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admired-caroline-1958835/) [Admired Elsa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admired-elsa-2624717/) [Caroline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caroline/) [Caroline Crale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caroline-crale-3136725/)

## Related quotes

> [“Poirot asked: ‘Whatdo you see so plainly? The witnesses? The counsel? The judge? The accused standing in the dock?’ Fogg said quietly: ‘That’s the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/poirot-asked-whatdo-you-see-so-plainly-the-witnesses-the-counsel-the/)

[Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/)

> [“So to you Elsa Greer spoke in the words of Juliet?’ ‘Yes. She was a spoiled child of fortune-young, lovely, rich. She found her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/so-to-you-elsa-greer-spoke-in-the-words-of-juliet-yes-she-was-a/)

[Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/)

> [I have long admired Caroline Leavitt's probing insight into people, her wit and compassion, her ability to find humor in dark situations, and conversely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-chaon/i-have-long-admired-caroline-leavitt-s-probing-insight-into-people/)

[Dan Chaon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-chaon/)

> [“Never worry about what you say to a man. They're so conceited that they never believe you mean it if it's unflattering.” -Caroline to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/never-worry-about-what-you-say-to-a-man-they-re-so-conceited-that-2/)

[Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/)

> [“I can’t conceive of what you could possibly want from me, Lord Drake,” Caroline said crisply. “However, I can assure you that you won’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/i-can-t-conceive-of-what-you-could-possibly-want-from-me-lord-drake/)

[Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/)

> [“Caroline had felt more comfortable thinking of beauty as something separate from her, like a scarf or a coat you could check before going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-bauermeister/caroline-had-felt-more-comfortable-thinking-of-beauty-as-something/)

[Erica Bauermeister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-bauermeister/)

> [“I'm not that girl who randomly meets a guy one night and has her life change. I wear cords and flannel shirts. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-cohn/i-m-not-that-girl-who-randomly-meets-a-guy-one-night-and-has-her-life/)

[Rachel Cohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-cohn/)

> [Caroline was always moody and miserable, but I liked it. I liked feeling as if she had chosen me as the only person in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/caroline-was-always-moody-and-miserable-but-i-liked-it-i-liked/)

[John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/)

> [Not one person has ever sent me a drink because I was Caroline in 'Nick and Norah.' People reference it; people say really nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/not-one-person-has-ever-sent-me-a-drink-because-i-was-caroline-in/)

[Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/)

> [“How many miles had they come? Less than halfway, and already Caroline had the sense that a separation such as this could put more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-miller/how-many-miles-had-they-come-less-than-halfway-and-already-caroline/)

[Sarah Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-miller/)

> [“I turned to kiss his fingertips. He stared into my eyes again, those sex sapphires doing their voodoo that made me a puddle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-clayton/i-turned-to-kiss-his-fingertips-he-stared-into-my-eyes-again-those/)

[Alice Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-clayton/)

> [I would enjoy seeing anyone else sing 'Caroline Shut Up.' That would be interesting. I would give that one away, actually, which is funny,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-polachek/i-would-enjoy-seeing-anyone-else-sing-caroline-shut-up-that-would-be/)

[Caroline Polachek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-polachek/)

> [“she could begin again and not become so entangled in this long, horrible war, would she watch from the sidelines as a spectator this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-austin/she-could-begin-again-and-not-become-so-entangled-in-this-long/)

[Lynn Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-austin/)

> [“I must try to be charitable, Caroline thought: probably she doesn't mean to sound as if she is continually translating from Latin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jude-morgan/i-must-try-to-be-charitable-caroline-thought-probably-she-doesn-t/)

[Jude Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jude-morgan/)

> [Very good in the Back to the Future movies, but was born to play Caroline in the City.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lea-thompson/very-good-in-the-back-to-the-future-movies-but-was-born-to-play/)

[Lea Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lea-thompson/)

## More by Agatha Christie

> [One must accept the fact that we have only one companion in this world, a companion who accompanies us from the cradle to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/one-must-accept-the-fact-that-we-have-only-one-companion-in-this/)

[Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/)

> [“I like to see an angry Englishman," said Poirot. "They are very amusing. The more emotional they feel the less command they have of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/i-like-to-see-an-angry-englishman-said-poirot-they-are-very-amusing/)

[Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/)

> [“Now, as I expect you know, there is nothing more cruel than talk, and there is nothing more difficult to combat. When people say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/now-as-i-expect-you-know-there-is-nothing-more-cruel-than-talk-and/)

[Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/)

> [“A child says ‘Thank God for my good dinner’. What can I say at seventy-five? ‘Thank God for my good life, and for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/a-child-says-thank-god-for-my-good-dinner-what-can-i-say-at-seventy/)

[Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/)

> [“I'm afraid I always find Shakespeare terribly dreary. All those long scenes where everybody is drunk and it's supposed to be funny.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/i-m-afraid-i-always-find-shakespeare-terribly-dreary-all-those-long/)

[Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/)

> [“Either her dream had taken a very odd turn or else - or else Mary had really rushed into the room and had said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/either-her-dream-had-taken-a-very-odd-turn-or-else-or-else-mary-had/)

[Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/)

> [“Every murderer is probably somebody’s old friend,” observed Poirot philosophically. “You cannot mix up sentiment and reason.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/every-murderer-is-probably-somebody-s-old-friend-observed-poirot/)

[Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/)

> [“Well, of course, it was not any of my business but you get very queer glimpses of life sometimes, and you can't help speculating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/well-of-course-it-was-not-any-of-my-business-but-you-get-very-queer/)

[Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/)

> [“Mr. Satterthwaite looked cheered. Suddenly an idea struck him. His jaw fell. "My goodness," he cried, "I've only just realized it! That rascal, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/mr-satterthwaite-looked-cheered-suddenly-an-idea-struck-him-his-jaw/)

[Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/)

> [“The old gentleman refuses to have the telephone which he regards as a device of the devil, and on a par with radio, television,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/the-old-gentleman-refuses-to-have-the-telephone-which-he-regards-as-a/)

[Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/)

> [“That’s how they do it, these girls! Othello charmed Desdemona by telling her stories, but, oh, didn’t Desdemona charm Othello by the way she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/that-s-how-they-do-it-these-girls-othello-charmed-desdemona-by/)

[Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/)

> [It is ridiculous to set a detective story in New York City. New York City is itself a detective story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/it-is-ridiculous-to-set-a-detective-story-in-new-york-city-new-york/)

[Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/)

> [“Poirot, watching him, felt suddenly a doubt--an uncomfortable twinge. Was there, here, something that he had missed? Some richness of the spirit? Sadness crept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/poirot-watching-him-felt-suddenly-a-doubt-an-uncomfortable-twinge-was/)

[Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/)

> [In the midst of life, we are in death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/in-the-midst-of-life-we-are-in-death/)

[Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/)

> [Then there are some minor points that strike me as suggestive - for instance, the position of Mrs. Hubbard's sponge bag, the name of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/then-there-are-some-minor-points-that-strike-me-as-suggestive-for/)

[Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/)

[Explore all 1,053 Agatha Christie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/)

## More Admired quotes

> [To me, true style icons have been few and far between. Elizabeth Taylor comes to mind. I never got to meet her while she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-rocha/to-me-true-style-icons-have-been-few-and-far-between-elizabeth-taylor/)

[Coco Rocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-rocha/)

> [Most women you know are very much interested in the man who is reputed to be deeply admired by other women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-desmond/most-women-you-know-are-very-much-interested-in-the-man-who-is/)

[Arthur Desmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-desmond/)

> [The creation of George Smiley, the retired spy recalled to hunt for just such a high-ranking mole in 'Tinker, Tailor,' was extremely personal. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/the-creation-of-george-smiley-the-retired-spy-recalled-to-hunt-for/)

[John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/)

> [I suppose I'm led to do so by the fact of what happened to my contemporaries - people whom I've admired, people who I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-woodcock/i-suppose-i-m-led-to-do-so-by-the-fact-of-what-happened-to-my/)

[George Woodcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-woodcock/)

> [I always admired virtue - but I could never imitate it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-always-admired-virtue-but-i-could-never-imitate-it/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I've always looked at guys who I've admired, like John Williams and Lalo Schifrin and Max Steiner, and looked at the choices they made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-giacchino/i-ve-always-looked-at-guys-who-i-ve-admired-like-john-williams-and/)

[Michael Giacchino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-giacchino/)

> [Admired as a saint, defined by my rank. Combined with my strength, my time and my length.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/admired-as-a-saint-defined-by-my-rank-combined-with-my-strength-my/)

[Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/)

> [ \[On her father's death:\] Gone was the person who had known me better than anyone else on earth and who had loved and admired… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-brody/on-her-father-s-death-gone-was-the-person-who-had-known-me-better/)

[Jane Brody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-brody/)

> [I've always admired actors such as Tabu, Nandita Das and Shabana Azmi and I'd like to do the kind of roles that they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanam-saeed/i-ve-always-admired-actors-such-as-tabu-nandita-das-and-shabana-azmi/)

[Sanam Saeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanam-saeed/)

> [In life, if you are intelligent then you will be admired but if you are prominent then you are envied meanwhile if you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeka/in-life-if-you-are-intelligent-then-you-will-be-admired-but-if-you/)

[Jeka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeka/)

> [ He \[A. J. Balfour\] was eminently one of the Cole Porter school of famous men, who only fell to rise again. Picking himself up… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-balfour/he-a-j-balfour-was-eminently-one-of-the-cole-porter-school-of-famous/)

[Arthur Balfour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-balfour/)

> [She never felt sorry for herself, and that was something I decided I admired most in people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/she-never-felt-sorry-for-herself-and-that-was-something-i-decided-i/)

[Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/)

> [Celebrity is never more admired than by the negligent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/celebrity-is-never-more-admired-than-by-the-negligent/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [I have loved, adored and admired Irrfan Khan's work. Some of his movies are remarkable. So, working with him has been an honor and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiku-sharda/i-have-loved-adored-and-admired-irrfan-khan-s-work-some-of-his-movies/)

[Kiku Sharda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiku-sharda/)

> [What! nothing grand and noble to be admired, obeyed, copied? Ah, the lack is not without you, but within you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-mcnair-wright/what-nothing-grand-and-noble-to-be-admired-obeyed-copied-ah-the-lack/)

[Julia McNair Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-mcnair-wright/)

[Browse all 392 Admired quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admired/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I admired Elsa Greer because she had guts, because she could fight, because she stood up to her tormentors and never quailed! But I admired Caroline Crale because she didn’t fight, because she retreated into her world of half lights and shadows. She was never defeated because she never gave battle.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Agatha Christie"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/i-admired-elsa-greer-because-she-had-guts-because-she-could-fight/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Admired"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/i-admired-elsa-greer-because-she-had-guts-because-she-could-fight/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c9/agatha-christie-154_admired_i-admired-elsa-greer-because-she-had-gut_2992106.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c9/agatha-christie-154_admired_i-admired-elsa-greer-because-she-had-gut_2992106.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c9/agatha-christie-154_admired_i-admired-elsa-greer-because-she-had-gut_2992106.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I admired Elsa Greer because she had guts, because she could fight, because she stood up to her tormentors…” — Agatha Christie",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Agatha Christie",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I admired Elsa Greer because she...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/i-admired-elsa-greer-because-she-had-guts-because-she-could-fight/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/i-admired-elsa-greer-because-she-had-guts-because-she-could-fight/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
