--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Preserve me from such cordiality! It is…" description: "\"Preserve me from such cordiality! It is like handling briar-roses and may-blossoms - bright enough to the eye, and outwardly soft to the touch, but you..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dae/anne-bronte-1444_briars_preserve-me-from-such-cordiality-it-is-l_946039.jpg" --- # Preserve me from such cordiality! It is like handling… ![“Preserve me from such cordiality! It is like handling briar-roses and may-blossoms - bright enough to the eye, and outwardly soft to the touch, but you know there are thorns beneath, and every now and then you feel them too; and perhaps resent the injury by crushing them in till you have destroyed…” quote by Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dae/anne-bronte-1444_briars_preserve-me-from-such-cordiality-it-is-l_946039.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dae/anne-bronte-1444_briars_preserve-me-from-such-cordiality-it-is-l_946039.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dae/anne-bronte-1444_briars_preserve-me-from-such-cordiality-it-is-l_946039.jpg) > “Preserve me from such cordiality! It is like handling briar-roses and may-blossoms - bright enough to the eye, and outwardly soft to the touch, but you know there are thorns beneath, and every now and then you feel them too; and perhaps resent the injury by crushing them in till you have destroyed their power, though somewhat to the detriment of your own fingers.” [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Polite interactions can conceal hidden pain, and reacting with aggression may harm both parties. **In simple terms:** Kindness may hide hurt; aggression harms all. Key Takeaway Practice gentle honesty and empathy. Themes relationships communication pain boundaries empathy Mood cautious reflective compassionate Type philosophical advisory When to use this quote - conflict mediation - personal boundary setting - team feedback sessions Key Concepts psychology of interpersonal dynamics conflict resolution social etiquette Questions to Reflect On - How can you recognize hidden hurt in courteous exchanges? - What strategies preserve kindness without suppressing truth? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on politeness can prevent addressing deeper issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Briars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/briars/) [Cordiality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cordiality/) [Crush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crush/) [Flower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flower/) [Injury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injury/) [Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rose/) ## Related quotes > [“Do roses know their thorns can hurt?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonben-t-ramsey/do-roses-know-their-thorns-can-hurt/) JonBenét Ramsey ♡ > [Such was the end of Philip (II, king of Macedonia) ...He had ruled 24 years. He is known to fame as one who with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diodorus-siculus/such-was-the-end-of-philip-ii-king-of-macedonia-he-had-ruled-24-years/) [Diodorus Siculus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diodorus-siculus/) > [“(But) I learned in time that this benignity, this cordiality, this music, belonged in no shape to me: it was a part of himself;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/but-i-learned-in-time-that-this-benignity-this-cordiality-this-music/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Misanthropes have some admirable if paradoxical virtues. It is no exaggeration to say that we are among the nicest people you are likely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/misanthropes-have-some-admirable-if-paradoxical-virtues-it-is-no/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [The Forsytes were resentful of something, not individually, but as a family; this resentment expressed itself in an added perfection of raiment, an exuberance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-galsworthy/the-forsytes-were-resentful-of-something-not-individually-but-as-a/) [John Galsworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-galsworthy/) > [“Avoid conflicts, Embrace cordiality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaachynma-n-e-agu/avoid-conflicts-embrace-cordiality/) [Jaachynma N.E. Agu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaachynma-n-e-agu/) > [The well-mannered man never puts out his hand in greeting until a lady extends hers. This is a test of good breeding that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humphry-davy/the-well-mannered-man-never-puts-out-his-hand-in-greeting-until-a/) [Humphry Davy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humphry-davy/) > [the relationship between the two men was something of a miracle in itself. It was a cordiality based, apparently, on complete non-comprehension cemented by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margery-allingham/the-relationship-between-the-two-men-was-something-of-a-miracle-in/) [Margery Allingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margery-allingham/) > [The truth is that we should live with less envy and more cordiality and empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-bonucci/the-truth-is-that-we-should-live-with-less-envy-and-more-cordiality/) [Leonardo Bonucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-bonucci/) > [The way to make a true friend is to be one. Friendship implies loyalty, esteem, cordiality, sympathy, affection, readiness to aid, to help, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/the-way-to-make-a-true-friend-is-to-be-one-friendship-implies-loyalty/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [The things that make you a functional citizen in society - manners, discretion, cordiality - don't necessarily make you a good writer. Writing needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/the-things-that-make-you-a-functional-citizen-in-society-manners/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [The greatest danger to Christianity is, I contend, not heresies, not heterodoxies, not atheists, not profane secularism - no, but the kind of orthodoxy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/the-greatest-danger-to-christianity-is-i-contend-not-heresies-not/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [And priests in black gowns were walking their rounds and binding with briars my joys and desires. (from 'The Garden of Love')](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/and-priests-in-black-gowns-were-walking-their-rounds-and-binding-with/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [Funny how "question" contains the word "quest" inside it, as though any small question asked is a journey through briars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/funny-how-question-contains-the-word-quest-inside-it-as-though-any/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Perseverance gives power to weakness, and opens to poverty the world's wealth. It spreads fertility over the barren landscape, and buds the choicest flowers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-griswold-goodrich/perseverance-gives-power-to-weakness-and-opens-to-poverty-the-world-s/) Samuel Griswold Goodrich ## More by Anne Bronte > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [“There was a certain graceful ease and freedom about all he said and did, that gave a sense of repose and expansion to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-was-a-certain-graceful-ease-and-freedom-about-all-he-said-and/) [Anne Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [“When a lady does consent to listen to an argument against her own opinions, she is always predetermined to withstand it - to listen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/when-a-lady-does-consent-to-listen-to-an-argument-against-her-own/) [Anne Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [“There are, I suppose, some men as vain, as selfish, and as heartless as she is, and, perhaps, such women may be useful to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-i-suppose-some-men-as-vain-as-selfish-and-as-heartless-as/) [Anne Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [ “By his \[God's\] help I will arise and address myself diligently to my appointed duty. If happiness in this world is not for me,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/by-his-god-s-help-i-will-arise-and-address-myself-diligently-to-my/) [Anne Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [There is such a thing as looking through a person's eyes into the heart, and learning more of the height, and breadth, and depth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-is-such-a-thing-as-looking-through-a-person-s-eyes-into-the/) [Anne Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [“Keep a guard over your eyes and ears as the inlets of your heart, and over your lips as the outlet, lest they betray…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/keep-a-guard-over-your-eyes-and-ears-as-the-inlets-of-your-heart-and/) [Anne Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [What the world stigmatizes as romantic is often more nearly allied to the truth than is commonly supposed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/what-the-world-stigmatizes-as-romantic-is-often-more-nearly-allied-to/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [I was not really angry: I felt for him all the time, and longed to be reconciled; but I determined he should make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/i-was-not-really-angry-i-felt-for-him-all-the-time-and-longed-to-be/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [“Sullen silence was taken for rapt attention, and gave him greater room to talk; sharp answers were received as smart sallies of girlish vivacity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/sullen-silence-was-taken-for-rapt-attention-and-gave-him-greater-room/) [Anne Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [“Revenge! No—what good would that do?—it would make him no better, and me no happier.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/revenge-no-what-good-would-that-do-it-would-make-him-no-better-and-me/) [Anne Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [I’ll promise to think twice before I take any important step you seriously disapprove of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/i-ll-promise-to-think-twice-before-i-take-any-important-step-you/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [“It’s well to have such a comfortable assurance regarding the worth of those we love. I only wish you may not find your confidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/it-s-well-to-have-such-a-comfortable-assurance-regarding-the-worth-of/) [Anne Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [How odd it is that we so often weep for each other's distresses, when we shed not a tear for our own!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/how-odd-it-is-that-we-so-often-weep-for-each-other-s-distresses-when/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [Adoration isn't love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/adoration-isn-t-love/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) [Explore all 235 Anne Bronte quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) ## More Briars quotes > [Perseverance gives power to weakness, and opens to poverty the world's wealth. It spreads fertility over the barren landscape, and buds the choicest flowers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-griswold-goodrich/perseverance-gives-power-to-weakness-and-opens-to-poverty-the-world-s/) Samuel Griswold Goodrich > [Funny how "question" contains the word "quest" inside it, as though any small question asked is a journey through briars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/funny-how-question-contains-the-word-quest-inside-it-as-though-any/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [And priests in black gowns were walking their rounds and binding with briars my joys and desires. (from 'The Garden of Love')](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/and-priests-in-black-gowns-were-walking-their-rounds-and-binding-with/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [Oh no! Don't drag us away from Antartica and take us to the playground of the rich and famous! Not that briar patch! -Max](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/oh-no-don-t-drag-us-away-from-antartica-and-take-us-to-the-playground/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [And still I look for the men who will dare to be roses of England wild roses of England men who are wild roses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/and-still-i-look-for-the-men-who-will-dare-to-be-roses-of-england/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [A mist. A great mist. It covered the entire kingdom. And everyone in it - the good people and the not so good, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-yolen/a-mist-a-great-mist-it-covered-the-entire-kingdom-and-everyone-in-it/) [Jane Yolen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-yolen/) > [I went to the Garden of Love, And saw what I never had seen: A Chapel was built in the midst, Where I used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/i-went-to-the-garden-of-love-and-saw-what-i-never-had-seen-a-chapel/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [“You're in a prickly mood,' he tells me. As though I am not all-over briars at all times.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/you-re-in-a-prickly-mood-he-tells-me-as-though-i-am-not-all-over/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [Often I have been exhausted on trout streams, uncomfortable, wet, cold, briar scarred, sunburned, mosquito bitten, but never, with a fly rod in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kuralt/often-i-have-been-exhausted-on-trout-streams-uncomfortable-wet-cold/) [Charles Kuralt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kuralt/) > [Briar: "So I guess I was the last to know." Rosethorn: "Of course you are. You're a man, aren't you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/briar-so-i-guess-i-was-the-last-to-know-rosethorn-of-course-you-are/) [Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/) > [Don't let him upset you," Niko told the four softly. "He's old and he's frightened." "You're as old as him, and you aren't scared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/don-t-let-him-upset-you-niko-told-the-four-softly-he-s-old-and-he-s/) [Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/) > [At last Niko dropped his hands, and opened his eyes. His perfect tree illusion solidified and settled. "Very nice," said Briar with approval. "Couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/at-last-niko-dropped-his-hands-and-opened-his-eyes-his-perfect-tree/) [Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/) > [Just like Love is yonder rose, Heavenly fragrance round it throws, Yet tears its dewy leaves disclose, And in the midst of briars it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/6th-viscount-strangford-percy-smythe/just-like-love-is-yonder-rose-heavenly-fragrance-round-it-throws-yet/) 6th Viscount Strangford Percy Smythe > [Briar: "They never tell you some things. They tell you mages have wonderful power and they learn all kinds of secrets. Nobody ever mentions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/briar-they-never-tell-you-some-things-they-tell-you-mages-have/) [Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/) > [“Puck rolled his eyes. Holding out his hand, he gave me an encouraging smile. "Come on, Princess. Don't want to get separated in here."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/puck-rolled-his-eyes-holding-out-his-hand-he-gave-me-an-encouraging/) [Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/) [Browse all 30 Briars quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/briars/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Preserve me from such cordiality! It is like handling briar-roses and may-blossoms - bright enough to the eye, and outwardly soft to the touch, but you know there are thorns beneath, and every now and then you feel them too; and perhaps resent the injury by crushing them in till you have destroyed their power, though somewhat to the detriment of your own fingers.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anne Bronte" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/preserve-me-from-such-cordiality-it-is-like-handling-briar-roses-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Briars" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/preserve-me-from-such-cordiality-it-is-like-handling-briar-roses-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dae/anne-bronte-1444_briars_preserve-me-from-such-cordiality-it-is-l_946039.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dae/anne-bronte-1444_briars_preserve-me-from-such-cordiality-it-is-l_946039.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dae/anne-bronte-1444_briars_preserve-me-from-such-cordiality-it-is-l_946039.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Preserve me from such cordiality! 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