---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Bell had been disdainful of them; she’d…"
description: "\"“Bell had been disdainful of them; she’d thought them small and ordinary. She’d taken such pleasure in saying no to their proposals and breaking their ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a02/ayana-mathis-8325_breaking-hearts_bell-had-been-disdainful-of-them-she-d-t_573677.jpg"
---

#  Bell had been disdainful of them; she’d thought them small…

![“Bell had been disdainful of them; she’d thought them small and ordinary. She’d taken such pleasure in saying no to their proposals and breaking their hearts. Women who married men like that did nothing but shop for groceries and nearly die of boredom. But here I am dying anyway.” quote by Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a02/ayana-mathis-8325_breaking-hearts_bell-had-been-disdainful-of-them-she-d-t_573677.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a02/ayana-mathis-8325_breaking-hearts_bell-had-been-disdainful-of-them-she-d-t_573677.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a02/ayana-mathis-8325_breaking-hearts_bell-had-been-disdainful-of-them-she-d-t_573677.jpg)

> ““Bell had been disdainful of them; she’d thought them small and ordinary. She’d taken such pleasure in saying no to their proposals and breaking their hearts. Women who married men like that did nothing but shop for groceries and nearly die of boredom. But here I am dying anyway.””

[Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/)

## About This Quote

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

The narrator reflects on a woman's disdainful attitude toward others, her boredom, and her own impending death, highlighting emptiness and resignation.

**In simple terms:** A disdainful woman feels bored and resigned, facing death.

Key Takeaway

Question superficial judgments and seek deeper meaning.

Themes

boredom disdain existential meaninglessness death

Mood

cynical melancholic

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- career stagnation
- relationship dynamics
- life reflection

Key Concepts

social expectations gender roles personal fulfillment

Questions to Reflect On

- What drives her disdain?
- How can one find purpose beyond routine?

A Different Perspective

The tone may overgeneralize women's experiences.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Breaking hearts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaking-hearts/) [Married men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/married-men/)

## Related quotes

> [“Hattie had never been easy to love. She was too quiet, it was impossible to know what she was thinking. And she was angry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/hattie-had-never-been-easy-to-love-she-was-too-quiet-it-was/)

[Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/)

> [“Just in case you’re wondering,” Gage says, breaking the silence, “this alliance of ours doesn’t mean I like you.” “Feeling’s mutual.” Julian tosses him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-kreitzer/just-in-case-you-re-wondering-gage-says-breaking-the-silence-this/)

[Laura Kreitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-kreitzer/)

> [“He alternated between ignoring me and shooting me disdainful looks that clearly said “Who is this ugly off-brand non-sorority girl ruining our homo-erotic bro-times?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/he-alternated-between-ignoring-me-and-shooting-me-disdainful-looks/)

[Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/)

> [“Disdainful of fur and fretful, privately, about the cost of his buttons, Jerott Blyth sat like the born horseman he was, and watched discreetly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-dunnett/disdainful-of-fur-and-fretful-privately-about-the-cost-of-his-buttons/)

[Dorothy Dunnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-dunnett/)

> [“She was a virgin and a warrior, disdainful of the male, which was what eventually convinced people that she really must be off her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mile-zola/she-was-a-virgin-and-a-warrior-disdainful-of-the-male-which-was-what/)

[Émile Zola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mile-zola/)

> [I defy you to try it, Princess. Go ahead. I don’t even know how to sweep a floor. All I know how to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-defy-you-to-try-it-princess-go-ahead-i-don-t-even-know-how-to-sweep/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [While you are still beautiful and life still woos, it is such a fine gesture of disdainful pride to jilt it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-o-neill/while-you-are-still-beautiful-and-life-still-woos-it-is-such-a-fine/)

[Eugene O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-o-neill/)

> [“Damn, but the man was sexy in a disdainful, you-annoy-me kind of way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-banks/damn-but-the-man-was-sexy-in-a-disdainful-you-annoy-me-kind-of-way/)

[Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/)

> [“Some women who married and also had lesbian relationships were genuinely bisexual. Many others married because they could see no other viable choice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-faderman/some-women-who-married-and-also-had-lesbian-relationships-were/)

[Lillian Faderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-faderman/)

> [“Jealousy in old age sometimes goes to ridiculous lengths. Owing to the overabundance of women here, the married ladies do not like to let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrik-groen/jealousy-in-old-age-sometimes-goes-to-ridiculous-lengths-owing-to-the/)

[Hendrik Groen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hendrik-groen/)

> [Here it is,' Nigel said. Mrs D, Mrs I, Mrs FFI, Mrs C, Mrs U, Mrs LTY. That spells difficulty.' How perfectly ridiculous!' snorted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/here-it-is-nigel-said-mrs-d-mrs-i-mrs-ffi-mrs-c-mrs-u-mrs-lty-that/)

[Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/)

> [“I'm getting married because it's time and I want to have a family." "No, that's why men get married. Women get married because they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-billerbeck/i-m-getting-married-because-it-s-time-and-i-want-to-have-a-family-no/)

[Kristin Billerbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-billerbeck/)

> [Marriage is traditionally the destiny offered to women by society. Most women are married or have been, or plan to be or suffer from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/marriage-is-traditionally-the-destiny-offered-to-women-by-society/)

[Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/)

> [“Unless she married soon, Bond thought for the hundredth time, or had a lover, her cool air of authority might easily become spinsterish and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/unless-she-married-soon-bond-thought-for-the-hundredth-time-or-had-a/)

[Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/)

> [After Emancipation, black women married earlier and more often because they were legally free to do so for the first time, and that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-traister/after-emancipation-black-women-married-earlier-and-more-often-because/)

[Rebecca Traister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-traister/)

## More by Ayana Mathis

> [“In one of the novel’s most dramatic and revealing chapters, Hattie leaves August with the older children and escapes with baby Ruthie (then called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/in-one-of-the-novel-s-most-dramatic-and-revealing-chapters-hattie/)

[Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/)

> [I think being consistent is really important. In the arts there's a misconception that you sit around waiting for the muse to come, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/i-think-being-consistent-is-really-important-in-the-arts-there-s-a/)

[Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/)

> [I think of my success as a kind of fluke. How else could I possibly think of it? And although it's a banal thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/i-think-of-my-success-as-a-kind-of-fluke-how-else-could-i-possibly/)

[Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/)

> [You have to find a way of shutting the future out and focusing on the writing. One of the problems I'll have with writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/you-have-to-find-a-way-of-shutting-the-future-out-and-focusing-on-the/)

[Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/)

> [I'm wary of being put in boxes. But at the same time, it's important that I embrace my identity as a writer who happens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/i-m-wary-of-being-put-in-boxes-but-at-the-same-time-it-s-important/)

[Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/)

> [“Half of what’s wrong with people today is that they ain’t got no place to go that makes them peaceful. I don’t reckon you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/half-of-what-s-wrong-with-people-today-is-that-they-ain-t-got-no/)

[Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/)

> [“Bell lifted her hand to her chest. Her heart beat so quickly. She was floating out on a tide of agony, and soon she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/bell-lifted-her-hand-to-her-chest-her-heart-beat-so-quickly-she-was/)

[Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/)

> [Racial terrorism affects the lives of white people and black people and everyone, everything. Racism is contaminating. It can affect the dogs in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/racial-terrorism-affects-the-lives-of-white-people-and-black-people/)

[Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/)

> [“Hattie’s children died in the order in which they were born: first Philadelphia, then Jubilee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/hattie-s-children-died-in-the-order-in-which-they-were-born-first/)

[Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/)

> [“Six understood in that instant that he had something the ministers wanted and it had given him power among them. He had never been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/six-understood-in-that-instant-that-he-had-something-the-ministers/)

[Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/)

> [I really, deeply believe in the primacy of character. I believe that my job as a writer is to put a believable human being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/i-really-deeply-believe-in-the-primacy-of-character-i-believe-that-my/)

[Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/)

> [“I go above deck to watch the sky darken into twilight. It helps me remember that this strange place is still the earth, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/i-go-above-deck-to-watch-the-sky-darken-into-twilight-it-helps-me/)

[Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/)

> [“Hattie clambered from the train, her skirt still hemmed with Georgia mud, the dream of Philadelphia round as a marble in her mouth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/hattie-clambered-from-the-train-her-skirt-still-hemmed-with-georgia/)

[Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/)

> [Even if you don't feel like sitting down to write or working on that big proposal, or whatever it is, just show up anyhow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/even-if-you-don-t-feel-like-sitting-down-to-write-or-working-on-that/)

[Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/)

> [Certainly I had from an early age a sense of the power and beauty of religious texts - the awesome magnitude of the Bible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/certainly-i-had-from-an-early-age-a-sense-of-the-power-and-beauty-of/)

[Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/)

[Explore all 82 Ayana Mathis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/)

## More Breaking hearts quotes

> [My own lov'd light, That very soft and solemn spirit worships, That lovers love so well--strange joy is thine, Whose influence o'er all tides…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-robert-maturin/my-own-lov-d-light-that-very-soft-and-solemn-spirit-worships-that/)

[Charles Robert Maturin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-robert-maturin/)

> [“Here's to the kids. This one's not for the kids, who always get what they want, But for the ones who never had it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-wentz/here-s-to-the-kids-this-one-s-not-for-the-kids-who-always-get-what/)

[Pete Wentz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-wentz/)

> [“No one is born a sinner, but since a human is a magnet for sin, as we grow, we fill our heart and soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samreen-ahsan/no-one-is-born-a-sinner-but-since-a-human-is-a-magnet-for-sin-as-we/)

Samreen Ahsan

> [Of love that never found his earthly close, What sequel? Streaming eyes and breaking hearts; Or all the same as if he had not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/of-love-that-never-found-his-earthly-close-what-sequel-streaming-eyes/)

[Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/)

> [No love for em nigga breaking hearts...no keys, push the start.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/no-love-for-em-nigga-breaking-hearts-no-keys-push-the-start/)

[Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/)

> [Oh well, when I was younger I was known for breaking hearts. I am the kind of person that falls passionately in love but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-jameson/oh-well-when-i-was-younger-i-was-known-for-breaking-hearts-i-am-the/)

[Jenna Jameson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-jameson/)

> [“Here's to the kids. The kids who would rather spend their night with a bottle of coke & Patrick or Sonny playing on their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-wentz/here-s-to-the-kids-the-kids-who-would-rather-spend-their-night-with-a/)

[Pete Wentz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-wentz/)

> [Jesse: " Hey Rose, welcome back. Still breaking hearts?" Rose: " Are you volunteering?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/jesse-hey-rose-welcome-back-still-breaking-hearts-rose-are-you/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [“Any hot plans for the weekend, Peabody?” “My usual, flicking off men like flies, breaking hearts, crushing souls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-robb/any-hot-plans-for-the-weekend-peabody-my-usual-flicking-off-men-like/)

[J.D. Robb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-robb/)

> [You're professional at breaking hearts, it's so automatic for you. It's like there's a switch that makes you start, you couldn't turn it off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnham/you-re-professional-at-breaking-hearts-it-s-so-automatic-for-you-it-s/)

[Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnham/)

> [Heres to the kids. the kids who would rather spend their night with a bottle of coke and Patrick or Sonny playing on their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-wentz/heres-to-the-kids-the-kids-who-would-rather-spend-their-night-with-a/)

[Pete Wentz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-wentz/)

> [I took to writing as my medicine to help me stay afloat in acting career journey. I wrote about me breaking hearts, and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/i-took-to-writing-as-my-medicine-to-help-me-stay-afloat-in-acting/)

[Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/)

> [“You move on, processing lessons and getting on with your life, and you even manage to avoid breaking hearts, most times. But I’m me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-owen/you-move-on-processing-lessons-and-getting-on-with-your-life-and-you/)

[Chris Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-owen/)

> [This weather may be breaking our hearts but it will not be breaking our will,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-bligh/this-weather-may-be-breaking-our-hearts-but-it-will-not-be-breaking/)

[Anna Bligh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-bligh/)

> [I know your a player out there breaking hearts and watching them cry. How cold are you a sence less killer no one diserves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-hood/i-know-your-a-player-out-there-breaking-hearts-and-watching-them-cry/)

[Courtney Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-hood/)

[Browse all 25 Breaking hearts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaking-hearts/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Bell had been disdainful of them; she’d thought them small and ordinary. She’d taken such pleasure in saying no to their proposals and breaking their hearts. Women who married men like that did nothing but shop for groceries and nearly die of boredom. But here I am dying anyway.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ayana Mathis"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/bell-had-been-disdainful-of-them-she-d-thought-them-small-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Breaking hearts"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/bell-had-been-disdainful-of-them-she-d-thought-them-small-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a02/ayana-mathis-8325_breaking-hearts_bell-had-been-disdainful-of-them-she-d-t_573677.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a02/ayana-mathis-8325_breaking-hearts_bell-had-been-disdainful-of-them-she-d-t_573677.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a02/ayana-mathis-8325_breaking-hearts_bell-had-been-disdainful-of-them-she-d-t_573677.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Bell had been disdainful of them; she’d thought them small and ordinary. She’d taken such pleasure in saying…” — Ayana Mathis",
                "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": "Ayana Mathis",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Bell had been disdainful of them;...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/bell-had-been-disdainful-of-them-she-d-thought-them-small-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/bell-had-been-disdainful-of-them-she-d-thought-them-small-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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```