--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Youth, dumb with embarrassment…" description: "\"“Youth, dumb with embarrassment, breathless with exhibitionism, stuttering with nerves, inarticulate with conceit; the socially flamboyant, the robustl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b0/anthony-powell-2659_shame_youth-dumb-with-embarrassment-breathless_854463.jpg" --- # Youth, dumb with embarrassment, breathless with… ![“Youth, dumb with embarrassment, breathless with exhibitionism, stuttering with nerves, inarticulate with conceit; the socially flamboyant, the robustly brawny, the crudely uninstructed, the palely epicene; one and all had obediently leapt through the hoop at Sillery's ringmaster behest; one and…” quote by Anthony Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b0/anthony-powell-2659_shame_youth-dumb-with-embarrassment-breathless_854463.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b0/anthony-powell-2659_shame_youth-dumb-with-embarrassment-breathless_854463.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b0/anthony-powell-2659_shame_youth-dumb-with-embarrassment-breathless_854463.jpg) > ““Youth, dumb with embarrassment, breathless with exhibitionism, stuttering with nerves, inarticulate with conceit; the socially flamboyant, the robustly brawny, the crudely uninstructed, the palely epicene; one and all had obediently leapt through the hoop at Sillery's ringmaster behest; one and all submitted themselves to the testing flame of this burning fiery furnace of adolescent experience.”” [Anthony Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-powell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Adolescence is a chaotic mix of insecurities and bravado, pushing youth into risky social performances. **In simple terms:** Teen years are full of awkward, daring behavior. Key Takeaway Embrace growth while staying true to yourself. Themes adolescence identity social pressure growth Mood nostalgic thoughtful Type literary observational When to use this quote - high school social events - first job experiences Key Concepts self‑esteem conformity peer influence Questions to Reflect On - What pressures drive my actions? - How can I stay authentic? A Different Perspective Teen behavior can be self‑destructive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Flamboyant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flamboyant/) [Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [I'm the easiest person to sell as a villain. Because of my flamboyant lifestyle, because of me being German, the way I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-dotcom/i-m-the-easiest-person-to-sell-as-a-villain-because-of-my-flamboyant/) [Kim Dotcom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-dotcom/) > [I don't think you have to be flamboyant to be a great player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amari-cooper/i-don-t-think-you-have-to-be-flamboyant-to-be-a-great-player/) [Amari Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amari-cooper/) > [The problem with suicide is that it seems so flamboyant. It's camp. You have to be a bit of a drama queen to ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/the-problem-with-suicide-is-that-it-seems-so-flamboyant-it-s-camp-you/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I like parties, but I don't like piñatas because the pinata promotes violence against flamboyant animals. Hey, there's a donkey with some pizzazz. Let's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-like-parties-but-i-don-t-like-pi-atas-because-the-pinata-promotes/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [People are often disappointed when they meet me because I'm not this giant, flamboyant - you know, I don't wear sequined jackets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kwan/people-are-often-disappointed-when-they-meet-me-because-i-m-not-this/) [Kevin Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kwan/) > [I think Lilyan (Tashman) is one of the most amusing people I know but I believe she dresses in too flamboyant a manner. Where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hedda-hopper/i-think-lilyan-tashman-is-one-of-the-most-amusing-people-i-know-but-i/) [Hedda Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hedda-hopper/) > [I really rate Paul Scholes, because he hasn't got the high profile of many of the Manchester United players, he doesn't get too much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-adams/i-really-rate-paul-scholes-because-he-hasn-t-got-the-high-profile-of/) [Tony Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-adams/) > [When you think about the Catholic Church, it is a bit flamboyant, in't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-moffatt/when-you-think-about-the-catholic-church-it-is-a-bit-flamboyant-in-t/) [Scarlett Moffatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-moffatt/) > [“A virtuos woman is not moved by big names and flamboyance, but only men of profound wisdom and integrity move her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/a-virtuos-woman-is-not-moved-by-big-names-and-flamboyance-but-only/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [ I remember that Jackie \[Stewart\] was the first driver wearing flameproof underwear! What it definitely was: it was much more flamboyant. But that doesn't… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sorrell/i-remember-that-jackie-stewart-was-the-first-driver-wearing/) [Martin Sorrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sorrell/) > [A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-harper/a-flock-of-flirting-flamingos-is-pure-passionate-pink-pandemonium-a/) [Charley Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-harper/) > [I did frequently refer to my war record in World War II, but not in any flamboyant way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/i-did-frequently-refer-to-my-war-record-in-world-war-ii-but-not-in/) [George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/) > [I have to accept that my role is to gather the runs slowly. Kevin Pietersen is flamboyant, but that style doesn't work for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-strauss/i-have-to-accept-that-my-role-is-to-gather-the-runs-slowly-kevin/) [Andrew Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-strauss/) > [It's fun playing two roles. The roles provide a wonderful range of emotions. Stuart is childlike and sensitive. Adam is ruthless, outrageous. He's flamboyant.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-canary/it-s-fun-playing-two-roles-the-roles-provide-a-wonderful-range-of/) [David Canary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-canary/) > [I have some flamboyant outfits. It wouldn't be me if I didn't. But I'm married now. I'm not allowed to wear those outfits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-douglas/i-have-some-flamboyant-outfits-it-wouldn-t-be-me-if-i-didn-t-but-i-m/) [Hugh Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-douglas/) ## More by Anthony Powell > [I was impressed for the ten thousandth time by the fact that literature illuminates life only for those to whom books are a necessity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-powell/i-was-impressed-for-the-ten-thousandth-time-by-the-fact-that/) [Anthony Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-powell/) > [“Like everything that's any good, it has about twenty different meanings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-powell/like-everything-that-s-any-good-it-has-about-twenty-different-meanings/) [Anthony Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-powell/) > [“I have absolutely no histrionic talent, none at all, a constitutional handicap in almost all undertakings of life;but then, after all, plenty of actors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-powell/i-have-absolutely-no-histrionic-talent-none-at-all-a-constitutional/) [Anthony Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-powell/) > [“The crematorium was a blaze of sunshine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-powell/the-crematorium-was-a-blaze-of-sunshine/) [Anthony Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-powell/) > [Parents. . . are sometimes a bit of a disappointment to their children. They don't fulfil the promise of their early years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-powell/parents-are-sometimes-a-bit-of-a-disappointment-to-their-children/) [Anthony Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-powell/) > [“Her expression was oafish, but it was on the whole this quality that gave her face a certain retentive efficacy. She had the look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-powell/her-expression-was-oafish-but-it-was-on-the-whole-this-quality-that/) [Anthony Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-powell/) > [“Enormous simplifications were possibly necessary to carry a deeper truth than lay on the surface of a mass of unsorted detail.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-powell/enormous-simplifications-were-possibly-necessary-to-carry-a-deeper/) [Anthony Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-powell/) > [“I hate anything superficial. But I will take the book and look at it, and tell you what I think of the writing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-powell/i-hate-anything-superficial-but-i-will-take-the-book-and-look-at-it/) [Anthony Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-powell/) > [“It is rather an occasion, darling,’ said Moreland, vexed at these objections. ‘After all, I am noted among composers for the smallness of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-powell/it-is-rather-an-occasion-darling-said-moreland-vexed-at-these/) [Anthony Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-powell/) > [“There seemed no particular object in avoiding banality from the start, as the evening showed every sign of developing into a banal one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-powell/there-seemed-no-particular-object-in-avoiding-banality-from-the-start/) [Anthony Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-powell/) > [Dinner at the Huntercombes possessed only two dramatic features: the wine was a farce and the food a tragedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-powell/dinner-at-the-huntercombes-possessed-only-two-dramatic-features-the/) [Anthony Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-powell/) > [“Even then I did not recognise the quest for power.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-powell/even-then-i-did-not-recognise-the-quest-for-power/) [Anthony Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-powell/) > [“Some of the best of us are quite unambitious.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-powell/some-of-the-best-of-us-are-quite-unambitious/) [Anthony Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-powell/) > [One passes through the world knowing few, if any, of the important things about even the people with whom one has been from time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-powell/one-passes-through-the-world-knowing-few-if-any-of-the-important/) [Anthony Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-powell/) > [“He stood pondering this flat, forthright declaration of anti-simianism on Miss Weedon’s part. The notion that some people might not like monkeys was evidently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-powell/he-stood-pondering-this-flat-forthright-declaration-of-anti-simianism/) [Anthony Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-powell/) [Explore all 156 Anthony Powell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-powell/) ## More Flamboyant quotes > [I'm the easiest person to sell as a villain. Because of my flamboyant lifestyle, because of me being German, the way I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-dotcom/i-m-the-easiest-person-to-sell-as-a-villain-because-of-my-flamboyant/) [Kim Dotcom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-dotcom/) > [It's fun playing two roles. The roles provide a wonderful range of emotions. Stuart is childlike and sensitive. Adam is ruthless, outrageous. He's flamboyant.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-canary/it-s-fun-playing-two-roles-the-roles-provide-a-wonderful-range-of/) [David Canary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-canary/) > [I have to accept that my role is to gather the runs slowly. Kevin Pietersen is flamboyant, but that style doesn't work for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-strauss/i-have-to-accept-that-my-role-is-to-gather-the-runs-slowly-kevin/) [Andrew Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-strauss/) > [I did frequently refer to my war record in World War II, but not in any flamboyant way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/i-did-frequently-refer-to-my-war-record-in-world-war-ii-but-not-in/) [George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/) > [A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-harper/a-flock-of-flirting-flamingos-is-pure-passionate-pink-pandemonium-a/) [Charley Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-harper/) > [ I remember that Jackie \[Stewart\] was the first driver wearing flameproof underwear! What it definitely was: it was much more flamboyant. But that doesn't… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sorrell/i-remember-that-jackie-stewart-was-the-first-driver-wearing/) [Martin Sorrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sorrell/) > [“A virtuos woman is not moved by big names and flamboyance, but only men of profound wisdom and integrity move her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/a-virtuos-woman-is-not-moved-by-big-names-and-flamboyance-but-only/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [When you think about the Catholic Church, it is a bit flamboyant, in't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-moffatt/when-you-think-about-the-catholic-church-it-is-a-bit-flamboyant-in-t/) [Scarlett Moffatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-moffatt/) > [I really rate Paul Scholes, because he hasn't got the high profile of many of the Manchester United players, he doesn't get too much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-adams/i-really-rate-paul-scholes-because-he-hasn-t-got-the-high-profile-of/) [Tony Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-adams/) > [I think Lilyan (Tashman) is one of the most amusing people I know but I believe she dresses in too flamboyant a manner. Where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hedda-hopper/i-think-lilyan-tashman-is-one-of-the-most-amusing-people-i-know-but-i/) [Hedda Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hedda-hopper/) > [People are often disappointed when they meet me because I'm not this giant, flamboyant - you know, I don't wear sequined jackets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kwan/people-are-often-disappointed-when-they-meet-me-because-i-m-not-this/) [Kevin Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kwan/) > [I like parties, but I don't like piñatas because the pinata promotes violence against flamboyant animals. Hey, there's a donkey with some pizzazz. Let's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-like-parties-but-i-don-t-like-pi-atas-because-the-pinata-promotes/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [The problem with suicide is that it seems so flamboyant. It's camp. You have to be a bit of a drama queen to ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/the-problem-with-suicide-is-that-it-seems-so-flamboyant-it-s-camp-you/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I don't think you have to be flamboyant to be a great player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amari-cooper/i-don-t-think-you-have-to-be-flamboyant-to-be-a-great-player/) [Amari Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amari-cooper/) > [I have some flamboyant outfits. It wouldn't be me if I didn't. But I'm married now. I'm not allowed to wear those outfits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-douglas/i-have-some-flamboyant-outfits-it-wouldn-t-be-me-if-i-didn-t-but-i-m/) [Hugh Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-douglas/) [Browse all 103 Flamboyant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flamboyant/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Youth, dumb with embarrassment, breathless with exhibitionism, stuttering with nerves, inarticulate with conceit; the socially flamboyant, the robustly brawny, the crudely uninstructed, the palely epicene; one and all had obediently leapt through the hoop at Sillery's ringmaster behest; one and all submitted themselves to the testing flame of this burning fiery furnace of adolescent experience.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anthony Powell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-powell/youth-dumb-with-embarrassment-breathless-with-exhibitionism/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Flamboyant" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-powell/youth-dumb-with-embarrassment-breathless-with-exhibitionism/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b0/anthony-powell-2659_shame_youth-dumb-with-embarrassment-breathless_854463.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b0/anthony-powell-2659_shame_youth-dumb-with-embarrassment-breathless_854463.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b0/anthony-powell-2659_shame_youth-dumb-with-embarrassment-breathless_854463.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Youth, dumb with embarrassment, breathless with exhibitionism, stuttering with nerves, inarticulate with…” — Anthony Powell", "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": "Anthony Powell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-powell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Youth, dumb with embarrassment, breathless with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-powell/youth-dumb-with-embarrassment-breathless-with-exhibitionism/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-powell/youth-dumb-with-embarrassment-breathless-with-exhibitionism/#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 } } ] } ```