--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: engaged,\" he said bitterly. \"Everybody's…" description: "\"“engaged,\" he said bitterly. \"Everybody's engaged. Everybody in a small town is engaged or married or in trouble. There's nothing else to do in a small..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/437/betty-smith-1012_children_engaged-he-said-bitterly-everybody-s-eng_2117074.png" --- # engaged," he said bitterly. "Everybody's engaged… ![“engaged," he said bitterly. "Everybody's engaged. Everybody in a small town is engaged or married or in trouble. There's nothing else to do in a small town. You go to school. You start walking home with a girl-- maybe for no other reason than that she lives out your way. You grow up. She invites…” quote by Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/437/betty-smith-1012_children_engaged-he-said-bitterly-everybody-s-eng_2117074.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/437/betty-smith-1012_children_engaged-he-said-bitterly-everybody-s-eng_2117074.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/437/betty-smith-1012_children_engaged-he-said-bitterly-everybody-s-eng_2117074.png) > ““engaged," he said bitterly. "Everybody's engaged. Everybody in a small town is engaged or married or in trouble. There's nothing else to do in a small town. You go to school. You start walking home with a girl-- maybe for no other reason than that she lives out your way. You grow up. She invites you to parties at her home. You go to other parties-- eople ask you to bring her along; you're expected to take her home. Soon no one else takes her out. Everybody thinks she's your girl and then...well, if you don't take her around, you feel like a heel. And then, because there's nothing else to do, you marry. And it works out all right if she's a decent girl (and most of the time she is) and you're a halfway decent fellow. No great passion but a kind of affectionate contentment. And then children come along and you give them the great love you kind of miss in each other. And the children gain in the long run.”” [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. In small towns, limited social options lead to routine relationships and marriages driven by convenience rather than passion, resulting in steady, affectionate lives and generational love. **In simple terms:** Limited choices produce steady, affectionate relationships and family love. Key Takeaway Accept routine, nurture affection, and value family bonds. Themes relationships marriage community contentment Mood reflective nostalgic Type narrative observational When to use this quote - small-town life - courtship - family planning - parenting - community events Key Concepts social dynamics convenience generational love Questions to Reflect On - What does “affectionate contentment” mean to you? - How can one seek deeper passion in limited environments? A Different Perspective May overlook deeper desires and personal growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Engaged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engaged/) [Engaged Everybody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engaged-everybody-4300656/) [Engaged Married](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engaged-married-799097/) [Engaged Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engaged-said-4300655/) [Long run](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-run/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Small town](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-town/) [Town Engaged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/town-engaged-4300657/) [Walking home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walking-home/) ## Related quotes > [“Renie was always engaged," said Judith dryly. "At one point, she was engaged to three guys at once, all with the same first name."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-daheim/renie-was-always-engaged-said-judith-dryly-at-one-point-she-was/) [Mary Daheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-daheim/) > [All my friends are getting jobs, engaged, or married. Well I'm just getting more awesome.. :D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/all-my-friends-are-getting-jobs-engaged-or-married-well-i-m-just/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“He was curious to know more about her. So he did something extremely rare. He sent her a note. Even more shocking, he suggested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/he-was-curious-to-know-more-about-her-so-he-did-something-extremely/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [“I am afraid it is quite clear, Cecily, that neither of us is engaged to be married to any one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-am-afraid-it-is-quite-clear-cecily-that-neither-of-us-is-engaged-to/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Watching a couple get engaged or married always makes me cry so much. Not to rush things but I can't wait for the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/watching-a-couple-get-engaged-or-married-always-makes-me-cry-so-much/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He has a fiancée, Emma. Not even just a girlfriend. A fiancée. Who knows how long he’s even been engaged? Engaged. To get married.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/he-has-a-fianc-e-emma-not-even-just-a-girlfriend-a-fianc-e-who-knows/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I got engaged, married, and divorced in 15 months in Hollywood, so, you know what I'm saying? We're out here putting rings on it!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mod-sun/i-got-engaged-married-and-divorced-in-15-months-in-hollywood-so-you/) [Mod Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mod-sun/) > [“The most absurd thing of the whole affair was that we were never engaged. He just started showing up Sunday after Sunday and now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-yrigollen/the-most-absurd-thing-of-the-whole-affair-was-that-we-were-never/) [Astrid Yrigollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-yrigollen/) > [“We were engaged. Not to be married, but in combat. So same thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/we-were-engaged-not-to-be-married-but-in-combat-so-same-thing/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Back in my heyday, when I was out on the streets - I'm engaged now, about to get married - but before that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/back-in-my-heyday-when-i-was-out-on-the-streets-i-m-engaged-now-about/) [Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/) > [“But I didn’t say he was married. I said he was engaged to be married. There is a great difference. I have a distinct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/but-i-didn-t-say-he-was-married-i-said-he-was-engaged-to-be-married/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [It's about how whenever I fall in love, I have these expectations of the experience being a perfect dream, which, of course, ruins it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/it-s-about-how-whenever-i-fall-in-love-i-have-these-expectations-of/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [“At almost every meeting since then, Big Bob has made me cry. I never went back to the doctor. I never chewed the valerian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/at-almost-every-meeting-since-then-big-bob-has-made-me-cry-i-never/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“Maybe it begins the day you pledge allegiance, face the flag and suddenly clutch your left clavicle because you find a tender puff of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-johnson/maybe-it-begins-the-day-you-pledge-allegiance-face-the-flag-and/) [Marilyn Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-johnson/) > [If I died If I died tonight would you notice? Would you even care? If I died tonight would you find it humorous? Would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-died-if-i-died-tonight-would-you-notice-would-you-even-care-if-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Betty Smith > [“Yes, when I get big and have my own home, no plush chairs and lace curtains for me. And no rubber plants. I'll have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/yes-when-i-get-big-and-have-my-own-home-no-plush-chairs-and-lace/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Several times that day, the name or thought of Papa had come up. And each time, Francie had felt a flash of tenderness instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/several-times-that-day-the-name-or-thought-of-papa-had-come-up-and/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [As long as one can suffer, one is living…live and suffer until life is gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/as-long-as-one-can-suffer-one-is-living-live-and-suffer-until-life-is/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Sissy told them they were way behind the times; that midwives were things of the past. Besides, she informed them proudly, she had no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/sissy-told-them-they-were-way-behind-the-times-that-midwives-were/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Why, Mrs McGarrity's all right. Mr McGarrity's all right, too. Only I guess they aren't all right to each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/why-mrs-mcgarrity-s-all-right-mr-mcgarrity-s-all-right-too-only-i/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“I drink because I don't stand a chance and I know it. I couldn't drive a truck and I couldn't get on the cops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/i-drink-because-i-don-t-stand-a-chance-and-i-know-it-i-couldn-t-drive/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Pipe dreams, he thought to himself, even while he was telling her about his dream winnings. But oh, how wonderful, he thought, if everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/pipe-dreams-he-thought-to-himself-even-while-he-was-telling-her-about/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Who wants to die? Everything struggles to live. Look at that tree growing up there out of that grating. It gets no sun, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/who-wants-to-die-everything-struggles-to-live-look-at-that-tree/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [It takes a lot of doing to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/it-takes-a-lot-of-doing-to-die/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“She sat in the sunshine watching the life on the street and guarding within herself, her own mystery of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/she-sat-in-the-sunshine-watching-the-life-on-the-street-and-guarding/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [...the reading, the observing, the living from day to day. It was something that had been born into her and her only - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/the-reading-the-observing-the-living-from-day-to-day-it-was-something/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [People always think that happiness is a faraway thing … something complicated and hard to get. Yet, what little things can make it up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/people-always-think-that-happiness-is-a-faraway-thing-something/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“Hildy O’Dair is old for her age,” she thought. “It’s like powder was sprinkled on her yellow hair. But she’s not much older than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/hildy-o-dair-is-old-for-her-age-she-thought-it-s-like-powder-was/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“One day they’re babies in buggies and the next day they’re in here taking picks. Kids grow up quick in this neighborhood.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/one-day-they-re-babies-in-buggies-and-the-next-day-they-re-in-here/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“If she never had any lovers, she kicks herself around when the change comes, thinking of all the fun she could have had, didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/if-she-never-had-any-lovers-she-kicks-herself-around-when-the-change/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) [Explore all 306 Betty Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) [Browse all 62,396 Children quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“engaged,\" he said bitterly. \"Everybody's engaged. Everybody in a small town is engaged or married or in trouble. There's nothing else to do in a small town. You go to school. You start walking home with a girl-- maybe for no other reason than that she lives out your way. You grow up. She invites you to parties at her home. You go to other parties-- eople ask you to bring her along; you're expected to take her home. Soon no one else takes her out. Everybody thinks she's your girl and then...well, if you don't take her around, you feel like a heel. And then, because there's nothing else to do, you marry. And it works out all right if she's a decent girl (and most of the time she is) and you're a halfway decent fellow. No great passion but a kind of affectionate contentment. And then children come along and you give them the great love you kind of miss in each other. And the children gain in the long run.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Betty Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/engaged-he-said-bitterly-everybody-s-engaged-everybody-in-a-small/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Children" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/engaged-he-said-bitterly-everybody-s-engaged-everybody-in-a-small/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/437/betty-smith-1012_children_engaged-he-said-bitterly-everybody-s-eng_2117074.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/437/betty-smith-1012_children_engaged-he-said-bitterly-everybody-s-eng_2117074.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/437/betty-smith-1012_children_engaged-he-said-bitterly-everybody-s-eng_2117074.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“engaged,\" he said bitterly. \"Everybody's engaged. Everybody in a small town is engaged or married or in…” — Betty Smith", "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": "Betty Smith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“engaged,\" he said bitterly. \"Everybody's engaged....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/engaged-he-said-bitterly-everybody-s-engaged-everybody-in-a-small/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/engaged-he-said-bitterly-everybody-s-engaged-everybody-in-a-small/#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 } } ] } ```