--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Again the surprised expression crossed…" description: "\"“Again the surprised expression crossed his face. He had not imagined that a woman would dare to speak so to a man. For me, I felt at home in this sort..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be8/charlotte-bronte-144_surprised_again-the-surprised-expression-crossed-h_3134033.jpg" --- # Again the surprised expression crossed his face. He had… ![“Again the surprised expression crossed his face. He had not imagined that a woman would dare to speak so to a man. For me, I felt at home in this sort of discourse. I could never rest in communication with strong discreet, and refined minds, whether male or female, till I had passed the outworks…” quote by Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be8/charlotte-bronte-144_surprised_again-the-surprised-expression-crossed-h_3134033.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be8/charlotte-bronte-144_surprised_again-the-surprised-expression-crossed-h_3134033.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be8/charlotte-bronte-144_surprised_again-the-surprised-expression-crossed-h_3134033.jpg) > ““Again the surprised expression crossed his face. He had not imagined that a woman would dare to speak so to a man. For me, I felt at home in this sort of discourse. I could never rest in communication with strong discreet, and refined minds, whether male or female, till I had passed the outworks of conventional reserve, and crossed the threshold of confidence, and won a place by their heart's very hearthstone.”” [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A woman seeks authentic connection beyond social conventions, valuing confidence and genuine discourse over reserved politeness. **In simple terms:** Seek true connection beyond social masks. Key Takeaway Embrace confidence, engage openly. Themes authenticity gender confidence communication Mood hopeful reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - friendships - romantic relationships - professional networking Key Concepts social norms personal growth intimacy Questions to Reflect On - How do you move past polite reserve? - What risks arise when seeking deep honesty? A Different Perspective May overlook cultural differences or be misread as presumptuous. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Surprised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprised/) ## Related quotes > [If you have no confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life. With confidence, you have won even before you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/if-you-have-no-confidence-in-self-you-are-twice-defeated-in-the-race/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [If you have no confidence in yourself,you are twice defeated in the race of life,With confidence, you have won even before you are started..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanks/if-you-have-no-confidence-in-yourself-you-are-twice-defeated-in-the/) Yanks > [With confidence, you have won before you have started.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/with-confidence-you-have-won-before-you-have-started/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [You have to make sure there's a high degree of confidence that whoever won the race did it fair and square.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-france/you-have-to-make-sure-there-s-a-high-degree-of-confidence-that/) [Brian France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-france/) > [In my second season at Tottenham, things didn't go as I wanted but I accepted the offer from Chinese football and there I recovered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulinho/in-my-second-season-at-tottenham-things-didn-t-go-as-i-wanted-but-i/) [Paulinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulinho/) > [Dare to believe, and then dare to speak, and you shall have whatsoever you say if you doubt not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smith-wigglesworth/dare-to-believe-and-then-dare-to-speak-and-you-shall-have-whatsoever/) [Smith Wigglesworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smith-wigglesworth/) > [Shut your mouth! You dare speak his name with your unworthy lips, you dare besmirch it with your half-blood's tongue, you dare —](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/shut-your-mouth-you-dare-speak-his-name-with-your-unworthy-lips-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Always dare to speak the truth but talk less".”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bikash-rush/always-dare-to-speak-the-truth-but-talk-less/) bikash\_rush > [Dare I speak ,to oppressed and opressor in the same voice? Dare I speak to you in a language that will move beyond the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/dare-i-speak-to-oppressed-and-opressor-in-the-same-voice-dare-i-speak/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [If people would dare to speak to one another unreservedly, there would be a good deal less sorrow in the world a hundred years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/if-people-would-dare-to-speak-to-one-another-unreservedly-there-would/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [“When we dare to speak in a liberatory voice, we threaten even those who may initially claim to want our words. In the act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/when-we-dare-to-speak-in-a-liberatory-voice-we-threaten-even-those/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [We must speak up for those who do not dare to speak, those who are not allowed to, and those who cannot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-crown-princess-of-sweden/we-must-speak-up-for-those-who-do-not-dare-to-speak-those-who-are-not/) [Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-crown-princess-of-sweden/) > [“dare speak… “Is he to remain in Paris,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-b-ryan/dare-speak-is-he-to-remain-in-paris/) [P.B. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-b-ryan/) > [“I dare to speak to you. The first thing you should have known? Halíka Dacomé belongs to no man. Least of all me. -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-may/i-dare-to-speak-to-you-the-first-thing-you-should-have-known-hal-ka/) [Alexandra May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-may/) > [The love that dare not speak its name has become the love that won't shut up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/the-love-that-dare-not-speak-its-name-has-become-the-love-that-won-t/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) ## More by Charlotte Brontë > [When we are struck at without a reason, we should strike back again very hard; I am sure we should - so hard as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/when-we-are-struck-at-without-a-reason-we-should-strike-back-again/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [My God, whose son, as on this night, took on Him the form of man, and for man vouchsafed to suffer and bleed, controls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/my-god-whose-son-as-on-this-night-took-on-him-the-form-of-man-and-for/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“A deal of people, Miss, are for trusting all to Providence; but I say Providence will not dispense with the means, though He often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/a-deal-of-people-miss-are-for-trusting-all-to-providence-but-i-say/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“This night is not calm; the equinox still struggles in its storms. The wild rains of the day are abated; the great single cloud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/this-night-is-not-calm-the-equinox-still-struggles-in-its-storms-the/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“How dare I, Mrs Reed? How dare I? Because it is the truth. You think I have no feelings, and that I can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/how-dare-i-mrs-reed-how-dare-i-because-it-is-the-truth-you-think-i/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“If men could see us as we really are, they would be a little amazed; but the cleverest, the acutest men are often under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/if-men-could-see-us-as-we-really-are-they-would-be-a-little-amazed/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [If all the world hated you and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved of you and absolved you from guilt, you would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/if-all-the-world-hated-you-and-believed-you-wicked-while-your-own/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs. With this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/life-appears-to-me-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Poverty, for me, is synonymous with degradation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/poverty-for-me-is-synonymous-with-degradation/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [When his first-born was put into his arms, he could see that the boy had inherited his own eyes, as they once were -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/when-his-first-born-was-put-into-his-arms-he-could-see-that-the-boy/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Talented people almost always know full well the excellence that is in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/talented-people-almost-always-know-full-well-the-excellence-that-is/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“Not one spark of spirit, not one symptom of resistance, would they have shown till the hand of the Corsican bandit had grasped that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/not-one-spark-of-spirit-not-one-symptom-of-resistance-would-they-have/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“Love can excuse anything except meanness; but meanness kills love, cripples even natural affection; without esteem true love cannot exist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/love-can-excuse-anything-except-meanness-but-meanness-kills-love/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [I think you will learn to be natural with me, as I find it impossible to be conventional with you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/i-think-you-will-learn-to-be-natural-with-me-as-i-find-it-impossible/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“You are no ruin sir--no lighting-struck tree: you are green and vigorous. Plants will grow about your roots, whether you ask them or not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/you-are-no-ruin-sir-no-lighting-struck-tree-you-are-green-and/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) [Explore all 1,082 Charlotte Brontë quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) ## More Surprised quotes > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [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/) > [ David Cameron was wrong on this \[Brexit\]. He didn't get the mood of his country right. He was very surprised to see what happened. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/david-cameron-was-wrong-on-this-brexit-he-didn-t-get-the-mood-of-his/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I am surprised that anyone can profess to be an atheist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/i-am-surprised-that-anyone-can-profess-to-be-an-atheist/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [Some friends said they weren't surprised to find out Napoleon and I were related, but it came as quite a shock to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-conti/some-friends-said-they-weren-t-surprised-to-find-out-napoleon-and-i/) [Tom Conti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-conti/) > [Many people would be surprised that, in fact, I'm quite shy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/many-people-would-be-surprised-that-in-fact-i-m-quite-shy/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Isn't there something wonderful about being surprised by what you weren't suspecting?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rege-jean-page/isn-t-there-something-wonderful-about-being-surprised-by-what-you/) [Rege-Jean Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rege-jean-page/) > [The millennials were raised in a cocoon, their anxious parents afraid to let them go out in the park to play. So should we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/the-millennials-were-raised-in-a-cocoon-their-anxious-parents-afraid/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [“We should have learned by now not to be surprised by kittypets." Graystripe”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-hunter/we-should-have-learned-by-now-not-to-be-surprised-by-kittypets/) [Erin Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hunter/) > [“It surprised him how badly he wanted her to stay. It was that male possessiveness again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maisey-yates/it-surprised-him-how-badly-he-wanted-her-to-stay-it-was-that-male/) [Maisey Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maisey-yates/) > [I surprised the hell out of myself when I got MVP for the 2018 All Star Legends Celebrity game. I had no idea I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-miz/i-surprised-the-hell-out-of-myself-when-i-got-mvp-for-the-2018-all/) [The Miz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-miz/) > [I'm shocked and surprised by people that are shocked and surprised that certain things in life are made up or not as true as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclanahan/i-m-shocked-and-surprised-by-people-that-are-shocked-and-surprised/) [Scott McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclanahan/) > [Today one can dare anything, and, furthermore, nobody is surprised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gauguin/today-one-can-dare-anything-and-furthermore-nobody-is-surprised/) [Paul Gauguin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gauguin/) > [I can whistle really loudly. You know the two-fingered whistle? That. People are usually really surprised that I can do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccartney/i-can-whistle-really-loudly-you-know-the-two-fingered-whistle-that/) [Mary McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccartney/) > [I would not be surprised to see Syria break apart entirely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-g-stavridis/i-would-not-be-surprised-to-see-syria-break-apart-entirely/) [James G. Stavridis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-g-stavridis/) [Browse all 1,060 Surprised quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprised/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Again the surprised expression crossed his face. He had not imagined that a woman would dare to speak so to a man. For me, I felt at home in this sort of discourse. I could never rest in communication with strong discreet, and refined minds, whether male or female, till I had passed the outworks of conventional reserve, and crossed the threshold of confidence, and won a place by their heart's very hearthstone.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charlotte Brontë" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/again-the-surprised-expression-crossed-his-face-he-had-not-imagined/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Surprised" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/again-the-surprised-expression-crossed-his-face-he-had-not-imagined/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be8/charlotte-bronte-144_surprised_again-the-surprised-expression-crossed-h_3134033.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be8/charlotte-bronte-144_surprised_again-the-surprised-expression-crossed-h_3134033.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be8/charlotte-bronte-144_surprised_again-the-surprised-expression-crossed-h_3134033.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Again the surprised expression crossed his face. He had not imagined that a woman would dare to speak so to…” — Charlotte Brontë", "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": "Charlotte Brontë", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Again the surprised expression crossed his...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/again-the-surprised-expression-crossed-his-face-he-had-not-imagined/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/again-the-surprised-expression-crossed-his-face-he-had-not-imagined/#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 } } ] } ```