--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Also intriguing was all the bowing. The…" description: "\"“Also intriguing was all the bowing. The association of height and status did not, of course, faze him. If anything, it made the Japanese seem noble. B..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a1/andre-alexis-29876_bowing_also-intriguing-was-all-the-bowing-the-a_855656.jpg" --- # Also intriguing was all the bowing. The association of… ![“Also intriguing was all the bowing. The association of height and status did not, of course, faze him. If anything, it made the Japanese seem noble. But where were the ones who made themselves big? That was the question. With so many people bowing down, it seemed to Majnoun like a competition…” quote by André Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a1/andre-alexis-29876_bowing_also-intriguing-was-all-the-bowing-the-a_855656.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a1/andre-alexis-29876_bowing_also-intriguing-was-all-the-bowing-the-a_855656.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a1/andre-alexis-29876_bowing_also-intriguing-was-all-the-bowing-the-a_855656.jpg) > ““Also intriguing was all the bowing. The association of height and status did not, of course, faze him. If anything, it made the Japanese seem noble. But where were the ones who made themselves big? That was the question. With so many people bowing down, it seemed to Majnoun like a competition amongst the low to see who could be lowest. In which case, discretion was strength, a paradox that Majnoun found almost as compelling as the film's relative absence of dogs.”” [André Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-alexis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Observes how excessive deference can become a competition of humility, suggesting true strength lies in measured restraint. **In simple terms:** Too much bowing becomes a contest; real power is quiet. Key Takeaway Value discretion over flamboyance. Themes humility power social dynamics Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - corporate meetings - political negotiations - social gatherings - team leadership Key Concepts paradox cultural critique status symbols Questions to Reflect On - How does humility manifest in leadership? - When does restraint become passivity? A Different Perspective May discourage genuine expression or reinforce hierarchy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bowing/) [Bowing down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bowing-down/) [Films](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/films/) [Japan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/japan/) ## Related quotes > [Many fledgling moralists in those days were going about our town proclaiming there was nothing to be done about it and we should bow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/many-fledgling-moralists-in-those-days-were-going-about-our-town/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Prayer is a ritual! But at the root of prayer is the idea of complete bowing down in submission to the Will of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/prayer-is-a-ritual-but-at-the-root-of-prayer-is-the-idea-of-complete/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [Roman Catholicism: a hundred million people bowing down before a flesh-hating, elderly celibate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-ehrenreich/roman-catholicism-a-hundred-million-people-bowing-down-before-a-flesh/) [Barbara Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-ehrenreich/) > [Painful for a person is rebellious independence, only in loving companionship with his associates does a person feel safe: Only in reverently bowing down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/painful-for-a-person-is-rebellious-independence-only-in-loving/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [The supreme thing is worship. The attitude of worship is the attitude of a subject bent before the King... The fundamental thought is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-campbell-morgan/the-supreme-thing-is-worship-the-attitude-of-worship-is-the-attitude/) [G. Campbell Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-campbell-morgan/) > [A little more patience, a little more charity for all, a little more devotion, a little more love; with less bowing down to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/a-little-more-patience-a-little-more-charity-for-all-a-little-more/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [I look forward to seeing Christ and bowing down before Him in praise and gratitude for all He has done for us, and for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/i-look-forward-to-seeing-christ-and-bowing-down-before-him-in-praise/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [And once I knew a meditative rose That never raised its head from bowing down, Yet drew its inspiration from the stars. It bloomed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-abbey/and-once-i-knew-a-meditative-rose-that-never-raised-its-head-from/) [Henry Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-abbey/) > [Bowing down in blind credulity, as is my custom, before mere authority and the tradition of the elders, superstitiously swallowing a story I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/bowing-down-in-blind-credulity-as-is-my-custom-before-mere-authority/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) ## More by André Alexis > [The book it reminded me of most is Henry Miller’s The Books in My Life. Like Miller, Shields manages to convey his affection for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-alexis/the-book-it-reminded-me-of-most-is-henry-miller-s-the-books-in-my/) [Andre Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-alexis/) > [In our male-oriented God phase, it's always about conquering and control of life and death. This power leads to a kind of thinking that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-alexis/in-our-male-oriented-god-phase-it-s-always-about-conquering-and/) [Andre Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-alexis/) > [“Prince's words had not been meant as a warning. Rather, he had been playing. He had been pretending. He had been speaking for speaking's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-alexis/prince-s-words-had-not-been-meant-as-a-warning-rather-he-had-been/) [André Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-alexis/) > [Now I'm a Catholic agnostic by the way. Yet those myths still live within me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-alexis/now-i-m-a-catholic-agnostic-by-the-way-yet-those-myths-still-live/) [Andre Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-alexis/) > [“It was not boring, said Majnoun, but it was strange. The people were always looking away to where you couldn't see. The whole time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-alexis/it-was-not-boring-said-majnoun-but-it-was-strange-the-people-were/) [André Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-alexis/) > [“The city had been built by people from innumerable elsewheres. It was a chaos of cultures ordered only by its long streets. It belonged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-alexis/the-city-had-been-built-by-people-from-innumerable-elsewheres-it-was/) [André Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-alexis/) > [“The group of people in front of her was jovial and paid her no attention. The group behind was much the same. She was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-alexis/the-group-of-people-in-front-of-her-was-jovial-and-paid-her-no/) [Andre Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-alexis/) > [“He was a committed leader, capable of - or prone to - instinctive decisions. More: he could put aside thought in the service of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-alexis/he-was-a-committed-leader-capable-of-or-prone-to-instinctive/) [André Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-alexis/) > [“most of the significant moments in her life were really significant only long after they had happened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-alexis/most-of-the-significant-moments-in-her-life-were-really-significant/) [Andre Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-alexis/) > [“The white dogs with black spots were the worst. It wasn't so much their aggression; other dogs were sometimes even more aggressive. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-alexis/the-white-dogs-with-black-spots-were-the-worst-it-wasn-t-so-much/) [André Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-alexis/) > [“so little of what anything means comes through words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-alexis/so-little-of-what-anything-means-comes-through-words/) [Andre Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-alexis/) > [We are stuck with not knowing what our actions will actually lead to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-alexis/we-are-stuck-with-not-knowing-what-our-actions-will-actually-lead-to/) [Andre Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-alexis/) > [As beings who cannot know the outcome of any particular action, it is difficult for us to act in a way that will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-alexis/as-beings-who-cannot-know-the-outcome-of-any-particular-action-it-is/) [Andre Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-alexis/) > [There's a tangle between weakness and vulnerability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-alexis/there-s-a-tangle-between-weakness-and-vulnerability/) [Andre Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-alexis/) > [“because he was the man he was, one strong thing came out of the confusion: love. ‘Love’ had caused him trouble in the recent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-alexis/because-he-was-the-man-he-was-one-strong-thing-came-out-of-the/) [Andre Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-alexis/) [Explore all 18 André Alexis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-alexis/) ## More Bowing quotes > [“I hope to be bowing in front of you for a long time.” He takes my hand, drops to one knee, and kisses my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-copeland/i-hope-to-be-bowing-in-front-of-you-for-a-long-time-he-takes-my-hand/) [Tricia Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-copeland/) > [I like America anyway. In Japan we are much more formal. If two friends are separated for a long time and they meet they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sessue-hayakawa/i-like-america-anyway-in-japan-we-are-much-more-formal-if-two-friends/) [Sessue Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sessue-hayakawa/) > [The rock is in bowing to Allah in the ocean :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hani/the-rock-is-in-bowing-to-allah-in-the-ocean/) [Hani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hani/) > [The leader’s (Jeff Denson’s) superb bowing.. showcasing Denson’s haunting vocals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-milkowski/the-leader-s-jeff-denson-s-superb-bowing-showcasing-denson-s-haunting/) [Bill Milkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-milkowski/) > [Before and after practicing Judo or engaging in a match, opponents bow to each other. Bowing is an expression of gratitude and respect. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/before-and-after-practicing-judo-or-engaging-in-a-match-opponents-bow/) [Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/) > [Bowing to the Saudi king is not an energy policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/bowing-to-the-saudi-king-is-not-an-energy-policy/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [“It wasn't you I was bowing to, but the whole of human suffering.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/it-wasn-t-you-i-was-bowing-to-but-the-whole-of-human-suffering/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [My first experience of doing martial arts was weird, real traditional, strange smell with incense burning. We did a lot of bowing, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-diaz/my-first-experience-of-doing-martial-arts-was-weird-real-traditional/) [Nick Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-diaz/) > [I'm aiming to do what I need to do for acting and nothing more. I'm bowing down to acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbey-lee-kershaw/i-m-aiming-to-do-what-i-need-to-do-for-acting-and-nothing-more-i-m/) [Abbey Lee Kershaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbey-lee-kershaw/) > [“What's he doing?" Bethany asked. "He's bowing.'Good day milday." Bethany giggled. "Crocodiles don't bow." "They should when they meet a princess.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerrelyn-sparks/what-s-he-doing-bethany-asked-he-s-bowing-good-day-milday-bethany/) [Kerrelyn Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerrelyn-sparks/) > [“Damsel," said the Prince, bowing to her. "You are of a high courage, and therefore, I doubt not, you come of a noble blood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/damsel-said-the-prince-bowing-to-her-you-are-of-a-high-courage-and/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [Look at the posture of prayer. It is the posture of slavery, of bowing before your master. We are a proudly rebellious country. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/look-at-the-posture-of-prayer-it-is-the-posture-of-slavery-of-bowing/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [“the custom of bowing to the earth, and the feeling which prompted the casting of dust on the head, in time of bitter affliction,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-h-pember/the-custom-of-bowing-to-the-earth-and-the-feeling-which-prompted-the/) [G.H. Pember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-h-pember/) > [Well, John Doherty's playing was very unique. He bowed a lot and used staccato, while I slur a bit. I bow a lot as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-ni-mhaonaigh/well-john-doherty-s-playing-was-very-unique-he-bowed-a-lot-and-used/) Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh > [“. . bowing down to You Guide me how to Rise up to Myself. \*Sajda\*”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zara-sagar/bowing-down-to-you-guide-me-how-to-rise-up-to-myself-sajda/) Zara Sagar [Browse all 20 Bowing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bowing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Also intriguing was all the bowing. The association of height and status did not, of course, faze him. If anything, it made the Japanese seem noble. But where were the ones who made themselves big? That was the question. With so many people bowing down, it seemed to Majnoun like a competition amongst the low to see who could be lowest. In which case, discretion was strength, a paradox that Majnoun found almost as compelling as the film's relative absence of dogs.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "André Alexis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-alexis/also-intriguing-was-all-the-bowing-the-association-of-height-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bowing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-alexis/also-intriguing-was-all-the-bowing-the-association-of-height-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a1/andre-alexis-29876_bowing_also-intriguing-was-all-the-bowing-the-a_855656.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a1/andre-alexis-29876_bowing_also-intriguing-was-all-the-bowing-the-a_855656.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a1/andre-alexis-29876_bowing_also-intriguing-was-all-the-bowing-the-a_855656.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Also intriguing was all the bowing. The association of height and status did not, of course, faze him. If…” — André Alexis", "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": "André Alexis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-alexis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Also intriguing was all the bowing....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-alexis/also-intriguing-was-all-the-bowing-the-association-of-height-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-alexis/also-intriguing-was-all-the-bowing-the-association-of-height-and/#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 } } ] } ```