--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Only a short time ago hed envied these…" description: "\"“Only a short time ago hed envied these brightly plumed birds[ladies in pastel dresses]. They possessed everything money could buy and most had the lei..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f91/cara-lynn-james-89493_expensive-clothes_only-a-short-time-ago-hed-envied-these-b_1218029.jpg" --- # Only a short time ago hed envied these brightly plumed… ![“Only a short time ago hed envied these brightly plumed birds[ladies in pastel dresses]. They possessed everything money could buy and most had the leisure to enjoy it. Yet their needs were greater than his own. They required a flock of admirers, dozens of servants, expensive clothes, and showy…” quote by Cara Lynn James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f91/cara-lynn-james-89493_expensive-clothes_only-a-short-time-ago-hed-envied-these-b_1218029.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f91/cara-lynn-james-89493_expensive-clothes_only-a-short-time-ago-hed-envied-these-b_1218029.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f91/cara-lynn-james-89493_expensive-clothes_only-a-short-time-ago-hed-envied-these-b_1218029.jpg) > ““Only a short time ago hed envied these brightly plumed birds\[ladies in pastel dresses\]. They possessed everything money could buy and most had the leisure to enjoy it. Yet their needs were greater than his own. They required a flock of admirers, dozens of servants, expensive clothes, and showy carriages to incite envy among their friends and foes.”” Cara Lynn James ## 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 envies the lavish lifestyle of fashionable women, whose needs for admiration and luxury exceed his own. **In simple terms:** Envy of lavish, attention‑seeking lifestyle. Key Takeaway Reflect on values beyond material excess. Themes envy luxury social status gender materialism Mood longing critical Type bird:1 envy:1 expensive clothes:1 jealousy:1 time:1 flock admirers:1 birds ladies:1 servants expensive:1 plumed birds:1 When to use this quote - social media - high‑society events - personal finance Key Concepts consumerism social comparison class fashion Questions to Reflect On - What truly fulfills you? - How can you find contentment without comparison? A Different Perspective Envy can breed resentment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird/) [Envy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/) [Expensive clothes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expensive-clothes/) [Jealousy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jealousy/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“She’ll need a code name of her own.” Quinn tapped his quill on the table as he read over Mouse’s notes for the tenth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-beaty/she-ll-need-a-code-name-of-her-own-quinn-tapped-his-quill-on-the/) [Erin Beaty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-beaty/) > [I have no expensive clothes, but I wear your love! I have no car, but I can take you to your wildest fantasy! I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-ceaser/i-have-no-expensive-clothes-but-i-wear-your-love-i-have-no-car-but-i/) [Evan Ceaser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-ceaser/) > [I have a wardrobe full of expensive clothes, but wear the same two T-shirts. I've never found a look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliet-stevenson/i-have-a-wardrobe-full-of-expensive-clothes-but-wear-the-same-two-t/) [Juliet Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliet-stevenson/) > [Seven complicated facts about Women: 1. They believe in saving. 2. Believe in saving but buy expensive clothes. 3. Buy expensive clothes but never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-rivera/seven-complicated-facts-about-women-1-they-believe-in-saving-2/) [Maria Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-rivera/) > [I don't waste money on smart, expensive clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsty-gallacher/i-don-t-waste-money-on-smart-expensive-clothes/) [Kirsty Gallacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsty-gallacher/) > [What does she have that I don't, could it be she's prettier, popular, more talented, wear expensive clothes, always dressed to impress, because theres…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-does-she-have-that-i-don-t-could-it-be-she-s-prettier-popular/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Answering the question 'How would you like to smell?' by saying 'I'd rather I didn't' is also no longer acceptable. It's not playing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/answering-the-question-how-would-you-like-to-smell-by-saying-i-d/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [“I knew something was wrong with me that summer, because all I could think about was the Rosenbergs and how stupid I'd been to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-knew-something-was-wrong-with-me-that-summer-because-all-i-could/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [You don't have to wear expensive clothes to look good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/you-don-t-have-to-wear-expensive-clothes-to-look-good/) [Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/) > [I would say, if you're buying less expensive clothes, buy two sizes bigger. They'll hang better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-sims/i-would-say-if-you-re-buying-less-expensive-clothes-buy-two-sizes/) [Molly Sims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-sims/) > [“This was a time of life, she understood, in which you might not know what you were, but that was all right. You judged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/this-was-a-time-of-life-she-understood-in-which-you-might-not-know/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [Drunk people and expensive clothes do not mix.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/drunk-people-and-expensive-clothes-do-not-mix/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-the-apostle/and-i-want-women-to-be-modest-in-their-appearance-they-should-wear/) [Paul the Apostle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-the-apostle/) > [I wasn't one to go out and buy a new car and stereo system and expensive clothes. My mom helped keep me grounded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-applegate/i-wasn-t-one-to-go-out-and-buy-a-new-car-and-stereo-system-and/) [Christina Applegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-applegate/) > [I don't really buy expensive clothes. I love good bags!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-siriano/i-don-t-really-buy-expensive-clothes-i-love-good-bags/) [Christian Siriano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-siriano/) ## More by Cara Lynn James > [“No one, especially the nouveau riche, turned down the interest of a Knickerbocker, a group of old money New Yorkers with cache, if not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cara-lynn-james/no-one-especially-the-nouveau-riche-turned-down-the-interest-of-a/) Cara Lynn James Explore all 2 Cara Lynn James quotes ## More Bird quotes > [And I have been very blessed, having coached some of the greatest that have ever played the game. 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