--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Lowood constraint still clings to you…" description: "\"“The Lowood constraint still clings to you somewhat; controlling your features, muffling your voice, and restricting your limbs; and you fear in the pr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf6/charlotte-bronte-144_quote_the-lowood-constraint-still-clings-to-yo_679467.jpg" --- # The Lowood constraint still clings to you somewhat… ![“The Lowood constraint still clings to you somewhat; controlling your features, muffling your voice, and restricting your limbs; and you fear in the presence of a man and a brother--or father, or master, or what you will--to smile too gaily, speak too freely, or move too quickly: but, in time, I…” quote by Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf6/charlotte-bronte-144_quote_the-lowood-constraint-still-clings-to-yo_679467.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf6/charlotte-bronte-144_quote_the-lowood-constraint-still-clings-to-yo_679467.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf6/charlotte-bronte-144_quote_the-lowood-constraint-still-clings-to-yo_679467.jpg) > ““The Lowood constraint still clings to you somewhat; controlling your features, muffling your voice, and restricting your limbs; and you fear in the presence of a man and a brother--or father, or master, or what you will--to smile too gaily, speak too freely, or move too quickly: but, in time, I think you will learn to be natural with me, as I find it impossible to be conventional with you; and then your looks and movements will have more vivacity and variety than they dare offer now. I see at intervals the glance of a curious sort of bird through the close-set bars of a cage: a vivid, restless, resolute captive is there; were it but free, it would soar cloud-high.”” [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. The narrator feels constrained by social expectations, fearing free expression, but hopes to become more authentic and lively over time. **In simple terms:** Social constraints limit true self; hope for freedom. Key Takeaway Embrace authenticity despite pressure. Themes identity freedom self‑expression social pressure Mood reflective hopeful Type literary personal development When to use this quote - romantic relationships - workplace dynamics - creative collaboration - personal development Key Concepts psychology gender roles personal growth Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize when you are self‑censoring? - What steps can you take to express yourself more freely? A Different Perspective Progress may be slow and resistance can persist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Restricting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restricting/) ## Related quotes > [I see at intervals the glance of a curious sort of bird through the close set bars of a cage: a vivid, restless, resolute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/i-see-at-intervals-the-glance-of-a-curious-sort-of-bird-through-the/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [If you say "can't" you're restricting what you can do or ever will do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/if-you-say-can-t-you-re-restricting-what-you-can-do-or-ever-will-do/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [When you're too concerned about branding, you're restricting yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelly-furtado/when-you-re-too-concerned-about-branding-you-re-restricting-yourself/) [Nelly Furtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelly-furtado/) > [I'm as against restricting access to drugs as I am to burning books. It offends me in the same way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/i-m-as-against-restricting-access-to-drugs-as-i-am-to-burning-books/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [Gender is probably the most restricting force in American life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/gender-is-probably-the-most-restricting-force-in-american-life/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [Then it was that were passed the laws restricting emancipation and prohibiting education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-charles-carey/then-it-was-that-were-passed-the-laws-restricting-emancipation-and/) [Henry Charles Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-charles-carey/) > [The way popular music is categorized and formatted cuts down on everyone's options. And although people don't talk about it, there are a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chapman/the-way-popular-music-is-categorized-and-formatted-cuts-down-on/) [Tracy Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chapman/) > [I'm against exclusion of any kind - whether that's restricting people from Muslim-majority nations from entering the U.S. or kicking merchants off our platform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-lutke/i-m-against-exclusion-of-any-kind-whether-that-s-restricting-people/) [Tobias Lutke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-lutke/) > [In absolute terms, we may have to look at restricting the number of flights people take.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adair-turner-baron-turner-of-ecchinswell/in-absolute-terms-we-may-have-to-look-at-restricting-the-number-of/) [Adair Turner, Baron Turner of Ecchinswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adair-turner-baron-turner-of-ecchinswell/) > [On a personal level, Freaking Out is a process whereby an individual casts off outmoded and restricting standards of thinking, dress, and social etiquette…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/on-a-personal-level-freaking-out-is-a-process-whereby-an-individual/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [When I learned that flour pound for pound has as many calories as sugar, and that when eating pasta you're basically eating cake, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/when-i-learned-that-flour-pound-for-pound-has-as-many-calories-as/) [Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/) > [Horror and panic themselves are forms of violence, and diminishing them, restricting their dimensions, is itself a civilizing act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/horror-and-panic-themselves-are-forms-of-violence-and-diminishing/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [I don't want to blanket ban all scars and disfigurements in films because that's going to be a very boring creative landscape and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-pearson/i-don-t-want-to-blanket-ban-all-scars-and-disfigurements-in-films/) [Adam Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-pearson/) > [When regulations restricting competition are relaxed, nobody's market share is protected. If telephone companies can offer video programming, cable revenue will surely drop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/when-regulations-restricting-competition-are-relaxed-nobody-s-market/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [People are mobile. They move around, and anytime they want to communicate, if you tie them to the wall or the wires, you're restricting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-cooper/people-are-mobile-they-move-around-and-anytime-they-want-to/) [Martin Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-cooper/) ## 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. 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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 Restricting quotes > [People are mobile. They move around, and anytime they want to communicate, if you tie them to the wall or the wires, you're restricting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-cooper/people-are-mobile-they-move-around-and-anytime-they-want-to/) [Martin Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-cooper/) > [When regulations restricting competition are relaxed, nobody's market share is protected. If telephone companies can offer video programming, cable revenue will surely drop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/when-regulations-restricting-competition-are-relaxed-nobody-s-market/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [I don't want to blanket ban all scars and disfigurements in films because that's going to be a very boring creative landscape and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-pearson/i-don-t-want-to-blanket-ban-all-scars-and-disfigurements-in-films/) [Adam Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-pearson/) > [Horror and panic themselves are forms of violence, and diminishing them, restricting their dimensions, is itself a civilizing act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/horror-and-panic-themselves-are-forms-of-violence-and-diminishing/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [When I learned that flour pound for pound has as many calories as sugar, and that when eating pasta you're basically eating cake, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/when-i-learned-that-flour-pound-for-pound-has-as-many-calories-as/) [Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/) > [On a personal level, Freaking Out is a process whereby an individual casts off outmoded and restricting standards of thinking, dress, and social etiquette…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/on-a-personal-level-freaking-out-is-a-process-whereby-an-individual/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [In absolute terms, we may have to look at restricting the number of flights people take.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adair-turner-baron-turner-of-ecchinswell/in-absolute-terms-we-may-have-to-look-at-restricting-the-number-of/) [Adair Turner, Baron Turner of Ecchinswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adair-turner-baron-turner-of-ecchinswell/) > [I'm against exclusion of any kind - whether that's restricting people from Muslim-majority nations from entering the U.S. or kicking merchants off our platform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-lutke/i-m-against-exclusion-of-any-kind-whether-that-s-restricting-people/) [Tobias Lutke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-lutke/) > [The way popular music is categorized and formatted cuts down on everyone's options. And although people don't talk about it, there are a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chapman/the-way-popular-music-is-categorized-and-formatted-cuts-down-on/) [Tracy Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chapman/) > [Then it was that were passed the laws restricting emancipation and prohibiting education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-charles-carey/then-it-was-that-were-passed-the-laws-restricting-emancipation-and/) [Henry Charles Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-charles-carey/) > [Gender is probably the most restricting force in American life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/gender-is-probably-the-most-restricting-force-in-american-life/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [I'm as against restricting access to drugs as I am to burning books. It offends me in the same way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/i-m-as-against-restricting-access-to-drugs-as-i-am-to-burning-books/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [When you're too concerned about branding, you're restricting yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelly-furtado/when-you-re-too-concerned-about-branding-you-re-restricting-yourself/) [Nelly Furtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelly-furtado/) > [If you say "can't" you're restricting what you can do or ever will do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/if-you-say-can-t-you-re-restricting-what-you-can-do-or-ever-will-do/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [Anger becomes limiting, restricting. You can't see through it. While anger is there, look at that, too. But after a while, you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thylias-moss/anger-becomes-limiting-restricting-you-can-t-see-through-it-while/) [Thylias Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thylias-moss/) [Browse all 24 Restricting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restricting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The Lowood constraint still clings to you somewhat; controlling your features, muffling your voice, and restricting your limbs; and you fear in the presence of a man and a brother--or father, or master, or what you will--to smile too gaily, speak too freely, or move too quickly: but, in time, I think you will learn to be natural with me, as I find it impossible to be conventional with you; and then your looks and movements will have more vivacity and variety than they dare offer now. 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