--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They meet again at dinner--again, next…" description: "\"“They meet again at dinner--again, next day-- again, for many days in succession. Lady Dedlock is always the same exhausted deity, surrounded by worshi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87d/charles-dickens-34_betrayal_they-meet-again-at-dinner-again-next-day_1515041.jpg" --- # They meet again at dinner--again, next day-- again, for… ![“They meet again at dinner--again, next day-- again, for many days in succession. Lady Dedlock is always the same exhausted deity, surrounded by worshippers, and terribly liable to be bored to death, even while presiding at her own shrine. Mr. Tulkinghorn is always the same speechless repository of…” quote by Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87d/charles-dickens-34_betrayal_they-meet-again-at-dinner-again-next-day_1515041.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87d/charles-dickens-34_betrayal_they-meet-again-at-dinner-again-next-day_1515041.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87d/charles-dickens-34_betrayal_they-meet-again-at-dinner-again-next-day_1515041.jpg) > ““They meet again at dinner--again, next day-- again, for many days in succession. Lady Dedlock is always the same exhausted deity, surrounded by worshippers, and terribly liable to be bored to death, even while presiding at her own shrine. Mr. Tulkinghorn is always the same speechless repository of noble confidences, so oddly but of place and yet so perfectly at home. They appear to take as little note of one another as any two people enclosed within the same walls could. But whether each evermore watches and suspects the other, evermore mistrustful of some great reservation; whether each is evermore prepared at all points for the other, and never to be taken unawares; what each would give to know how much the other knows--all this is hidden, for the time, in their own hearts.”” [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A tense, guarded relationship where both parties conceal motives and observe each other warily, revealing deep mutual suspicion and hidden agendas. **In simple terms:** Two people pretend not to notice each other's secrets. Key Takeaway Beware of hidden motives in close relationships. Themes suspicion power dynamics secrecy class observation Mood tense reflective Type literary psychological When to use this quote - family gatherings - political negotiations - corporate boardrooms - neighborly disputes Key Concepts social hierarchy psychological games trust privacy Questions to Reflect On - What are you assuming about others that you haven't verified? - How does secrecy affect your own peace of mind? A Different Perspective Mutual suspicion can erode trust and prevent genuine connection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Betrayal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/betrayal/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Secrets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secrets/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [We went our several ways," said Lady Dedlock, "and had little in common even before we agreed to differ. It is to be regretted,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/we-went-our-several-ways-said-lady-dedlock-and-had-little-in-common/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“Indeed, he married her for love. A whisper still goes about that she had not even family; howbeit, Sir Leicester had so much family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/indeed-he-married-her-for-love-a-whisper-still-goes-about-that-she/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [And I am bored to death with it. Bored to death with this place, bored to death with my life, bored to death with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/and-i-am-bored-to-death-with-it-bored-to-death-with-this-place-bored/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [ I did Bored To Death with Jason \[Schwartzman\] and Zach Galifianakis and those guys. I mean, how lucky can you be that you get… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-masur/i-did-bored-to-death-with-jason-schwartzman-and-zach-galifianakis-and/) [Richard Masur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-masur/) > [I wouldn't feel satisfied being on set every day doing a romantic comedy - I'd be bored to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-wouldn-t-feel-satisfied-being-on-set-every-day-doing-a-romantic/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [It is possible to move through the drama of our lives without believing so earnestly in the character that we play. That we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/it-is-possible-to-move-through-the-drama-of-our-lives-without-2/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [It is possible to move through the drama of our lives without believing so earnestly in the character that we play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/it-is-possible-to-move-through-the-drama-of-our-lives-without/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [I’m bored to death. Perhaps I should pillage one of my neighbors for my own amusement. It seems to work for Drowden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/i-m-bored-to-death-perhaps-i-should-pillage-one-of-my-neighbors-for/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [Broadly speaking, human beings may be divided into three classes: those who are billed to death, those who are worried to death, and those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/broadly-speaking-human-beings-may-be-divided-into-three-classes-those/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [I wanted to be bored to death, as good a way to go as any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-de-vries/i-wanted-to-be-bored-to-death-as-good-a-way-to-go-as-any/) [Peter De Vries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-de-vries/) > [If I die prematurely at any rate I shall be saved from being bored to death by my own success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/if-i-die-prematurely-at-any-rate-i-shall-be-saved-from-being-bored-to/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [“Smoking can kill you, he said, and I replied: sounds better than being bored to death”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-thurlow/smoking-can-kill-you-he-said-and-i-replied-sounds-better-than-being/) [Chloe Thurlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-thurlow/) > [“If you hate difference, you'll be bored to death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/if-you-hate-difference-you-ll-be-bored-to-death/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [If I die prematurely I shall be saved from being bored to death at my own success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/if-i-die-prematurely-i-shall-be-saved-from-being-bored-to-death-at-my/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [“The Path Of Least Resistance Is Littered With The Corpses Of The Bored To Death”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-cavanagh/the-path-of-least-resistance-is-littered-with-the-corpses-of-the/) [Dean Cavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-cavanagh/) ## More by Charles Dickens > [“All other swindlers upon earth are nothing to the self-swindlers, and with such pretences did I cheat myself. Surely a curious thing. That I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/all-other-swindlers-upon-earth-are-nothing-to-the-self-swindlers-and/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [... Arthur Gride, whose bleared eyes gloated only over the outward beauties, and were blind to the spirit which reigned within, evinced - a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/arthur-gride-whose-bleared-eyes-gloated-only-over-the-outward/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [There can be no disparity in marriage like unsuitability of mind and purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/there-can-be-no-disparity-in-marriage-like-unsuitability-of-mind-and/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [A new heart for a New Year, always!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/a-new-heart-for-a-new-year-always/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“Mrs. Joe was a very clean housekeeper, but had an exquisite art of making her cleanliness more uncomfortable and unacceptable than dirt itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/mrs-joe-was-a-very-clean-housekeeper-but-had-an-exquisite-art-of/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [There seems a magic in the very name of Christmas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/there-seems-a-magic-in-the-very-name-of-christmas/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“evening, they began to think that although he could never hope to be an Englishman, still it would be hard to visit that affliction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/evening-they-began-to-think-that-although-he-could-never-hope-to-be/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“Besides which, all that I could have said of the Story to any purpose, I had endeavoured to say in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/besides-which-all-that-i-could-have-said-of-the-story-to-any-purpose/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“The wheels rolled on, and rolled down by the Monument, and by the Tower; and by the Docks; down by Ratcliffe, and by Rotherhithe;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-wheels-rolled-on-and-rolled-down-by-the-monument-and-by-the-tower/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“The three customers pulled off their hats to Madame Defarge, with three flourishes. She acknowledged their homage by bending her head, and giving them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-three-customers-pulled-off-their-hats-to-madame-defarge-with/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“What a situation!' cried Miss Squeers; '...What is the reason that men fall in love with me, whether I like it or not, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/what-a-situation-cried-miss-squeers-what-is-the-reason-that-men-fall/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I admire machinery as much is any man, and am as thankful to it as any man can be for what it does for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-admire-machinery-as-much-is-any-man-and-am-as-thankful-to-it-as-any/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“Mr. Pickwick was a philosopher, but philosophers are only men in armour, after all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/mr-pickwick-was-a-philosopher-but-philosophers-are-only-men-in-armour/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) [Explore all 2,309 Charles Dickens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) ## More Betrayal quotes > [“That's the catch about betrayal, of course: that it feels good, that there's something immensely pleasurable about moving from a complicated relationship which involves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/that-s-the-catch-about-betrayal-of-course-that-it-feels-good-that/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [God’s faithfulness is stronger than our unfaithfulness and our infidelities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-s-faithfulness-is-stronger-than-our-unfaithfulness-and-our/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“Flattery looks like friendship, just like a wolf looks like a dog.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-auliq-ice/flattery-looks-like-friendship-just-like-a-wolf-looks-like-a-dog/) [Oscar Auliq-Ice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-auliq-ice/) > [There is no deceit in death. It delivers precisely what it has promised. Betrayal, though ... betrayal is the willful slaughter of hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/km-ii/there-is-no-deceit-in-death-it-delivers-precisely-what-it-has/) [KM II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/km-ii/) > [If you leave someone for another person, don't be surprised if that person leaves you for someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-leave-someone-for-another-person-don-t-be-surprised-if-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“As they say in New York, Get over it and, if you can't get over it, Get over talking about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/as-they-say-in-new-york-get-over-it-and-if-you-can-t-get-over-it-get/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [“He returned her gaze, yearning for sentimental solace; love which emanated from a familiar source, mattered little how bedevilling. They shared an intimate moment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-h-septimius/he-returned-her-gaze-yearning-for-sentimental-solace-love-which/) [A. H. Septimius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-h-septimius/) > [I was always here for you,you knew you could count on me and trust me blindly, and you knew that I would never tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hayssus/i-was-always-here-for-you-you-knew-you-could-count-on-me-and-trust-me/) [Michael Hayssus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hayssus/) > [Joy doesn't betray but sustains activism. And when you face a politics that aspires to make you fearful, alienated and isolated, joy is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/joy-doesn-t-betray-but-sustains-activism-and-when-you-face-a-politics/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) > [“Betrayal and love are not mutually exclusive." (Mordred)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-mercer/betrayal-and-love-are-not-mutually-exclusive-mordred/) [Aldous Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-mercer/) > [Love comes exactly... To those who still hope, even though they've been disappointed. To those who still believe, even though they've been betrayed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mizhan/love-comes-exactly-to-those-who-still-hope-even-though-they-ve-been/) [Mizhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mizhan/) > [For some people, a one-night stand doesn't make any difference in a seven-year love affair. I don't believe the degree of betrayal is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/for-some-people-a-one-night-stand-doesn-t-make-any-difference-in-a/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) > [Betrayal is a serious thing in this world,you know what else is serious? Being lied to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina/betrayal-is-a-serious-thing-in-this-world-you-know-what-else-is/) [Sabrina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina/) > [The greatest temptation for the like of us is: to renounce violence, to repent, to make peace with oneself. Most revolutionaries fell before this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-greatest-temptation-for-the-like-of-us-is-to-renounce-violence-to/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [“Sarai, you never know who might betray you until it’s too late.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/sarai-you-never-know-who-might-betray-you-until-it-s-too-late/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) [Browse all 2,050 Betrayal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/betrayal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“They meet again at dinner--again, next day-- again, for many days in succession. Lady Dedlock is always the same exhausted deity, surrounded by worshippers, and terribly liable to be bored to death, even while presiding at her own shrine. Mr. Tulkinghorn is always the same speechless repository of noble confidences, so oddly but of place and yet so perfectly at home. They appear to take as little note of one another as any two people enclosed within the same walls could. 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