--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We agree that it is too late to think of…" description: "\"“We agree that it is too late to think of visiting Cousin Ellen today – in fact if we do not hurry home we shall be late for dinner (an eventuality whi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f8/d-e-stevenson-9903_another-chance_we-agree-that-it-is-too-late-to-think-of_55519.jpg" --- # We agree that it is too late to think of visiting Cousin… ![“We agree that it is too late to think of visiting Cousin Ellen today – in fact if we do not hurry home we shall be late for dinner (an eventuality which cannot be contemplated with equanimity). As we near home and the hour advances, I beseech Tim to hurry. He replies indignantly that he will do…” quote by D.E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f8/d-e-stevenson-9903_another-chance_we-agree-that-it-is-too-late-to-think-of_55519.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f8/d-e-stevenson-9903_another-chance_we-agree-that-it-is-too-late-to-think-of_55519.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f8/d-e-stevenson-9903_another-chance_we-agree-that-it-is-too-late-to-think-of_55519.jpg) > ““We agree that it is too late to think of visiting Cousin Ellen today – in fact if we do not hurry home we shall be late for dinner (an eventuality which cannot be contemplated with equanimity). As we near home and the hour advances, I beseech Tim to hurry. He replies indignantly that he will do nothing of the kind; why should we race home, jeopardising our very lives, for the sake of a cantankerous old woman (only he does not say ‘woman’)? Do I realise – he says bitterly – that I am becoming absolutely under the creature’s thumb? Reply that I do realise it. He then says why on earth don’t I get rid of the brute? Reply that I am too frightened of her. Tim says the thing is absolutely preposterous, Cook must go. Fortunately, we arrive just in time for dinner, and it is such an excellent meal that Tim’s heart is softened, and he says we had better give her another chance, but I must take a strong line with her and stand no nonsense. Make no reply to this command as I feel in my bones I shall not be able to comply with it.”” [D.E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A domestic power struggle where duty, fear, and personal resentment clash over a seemingly trivial family obligation, exposing deeper dynamics of control and moral compromise. **In simple terms:** Family obligation versus personal autonomy. Key Takeaway Obedience can mask underlying resentment. Themes family dynamics power struggle moral conflict fear obedience Mood tense reflective wry Type dialogue narrative monologue When to use this quote - dinner planning - family gatherings - conflict with a demanding relative - decision to confront or comply Key Concepts duty control resentment compromise Practical Applications - navigating family expectations - asserting personal boundaries Questions to Reflect On - What does the narrator truly fear— the relative or the loss of harmony? - How does fear shape the narrator’s willingness to confront authority? A Different Perspective The narrator’s fear of confronting the relative may stem from deeper relational dependencies, suggesting that compliance could be a survival strategy rather than genuine agreement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agree Late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agree-late-773053/) [Another chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/another-chance/) [Cousin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cousin/) [Dinner Eventuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dinner-eventuality-773051/) [Late Dinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/late-dinner-773052/) [Reply Frightened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reply-frightened-773055/) [Tim Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tim-says-773054/) [Too late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-late/) ## Related quotes > [“Tim says he never suggested a historical romance. If I did write one nobody would read it. 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I always hope its the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-tandy/when-hes-late-for-dinner-i-know-hes-either-having-an-affair-or-is/) [Jessica Tandy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-tandy/) > [“I made her late, so she made me dinner. And by late I mean pregnant. And by dinner I mean marry her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-made-her-late-so-she-made-me-dinner-and-by-late-i-mean-pregnant-and/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nasty-disturbing-uncomfortable-things-make-you-late-for-dinner/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When he is late for dinner and I know he must be either having an affair or lying dead in the street, I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-viorst/when-he-is-late-for-dinner-and-i-know-he-must-be-either-having-an/) [Judith Viorst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-viorst/) > [“What happens when you give people a 2nd chance? They blame you for it. What happens when you give people a 3rd chance? They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/what-happens-when-you-give-people-a-2nd-chance-they-blame-you-for-it/) [Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/) > [“Give me another chance," I ask urgently. "I will do anything that you want me to do if you just tell me that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-cole/give-me-another-chance-i-ask-urgently-i-will-do-anything-that-you/) [Courtney Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-cole/) > [Russia may soon get another chance to move closer to the West, to make a step - I do believe the first step toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-voinovich/russia-may-soon-get-another-chance-to-move-closer-to-the-west-to-make/) [Vladimir Voinovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-voinovich/) > [“I finally decided to adopt guidelines rather than set a budget. If it could be done at home, skip it. If I had done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-k-stevens/i-finally-decided-to-adopt-guidelines-rather-than-set-a-budget-if-it/) [Kristine K. Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-k-stevens/) ## More by D.E. Stevenson > [“I can’t be doing with people that are not exactly what they seem.’ Mamie was”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-e-stevenson/i-can-t-be-doing-with-people-that-are-not-exactly-what-they-seem/) [D.E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) > [“Spend the afternoon with Miss H. looking over Bryan’s school clothes, and compile a large list of what he requires, which will probably have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-e-stevenson/spend-the-afternoon-with-miss-h-looking-over-bryan-s-school-clothes/) [D.E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) > [“Some people’s elegance was only skin-deep, scrape off a little bit of the veneer and you got the real wood—common”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-e-stevenson/some-people-s-elegance-was-only-skin-deep-scrape-off-a-little-bit-of/) [D.E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) > [“Why do I always want to appear more clever than I really am when Nora is anywhere about? 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Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) > [“In the course of my wanderings I have started life anew in many places, and in every place the same thing happens: at first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-e-stevenson/in-the-course-of-my-wanderings-i-have-started-life-anew-in-many/) [D.E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) > [It is curious, isn't it, that things you know well never look dirty and dilapidated-other people's old furniture looks shabby and moth-eaten. “I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-e-stevenson/it-is-curious-isn-t-it-that-things-you-know-well-never-look-dirty-and/) [D.E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) > [“Anne could not explain. It was always difficult for Anne to explain things even when they were clear to herself, and in this case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-e-stevenson/anne-could-not-explain-it-was-always-difficult-for-anne-to-explain/) [D.E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) > [“As long as skies are blue and fields are green Evening must usher night, night urge the morrow, Month follow month with woe, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-e-stevenson/as-long-as-skies-are-blue-and-fields-are-green-evening-must-usher/) [D.E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) > [“What fools the public were! They were exactly like sheep…thought Mr. Abbott sleepily…following each other’s lead, neglecting one book and buying another just because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-e-stevenson/what-fools-the-public-were-they-were-exactly-like-sheep-thought-mr/) [D.E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) > [“but she told Aunt Bella everything else, and Aunt Bella listened enthralled. She nodded and sighed and asked the right questions in the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-e-stevenson/but-she-told-aunt-bella-everything-else-and-aunt-bella-listened/) [D.E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) > [One need never be dull as long as one has friends to help, gardens to enjoy and books in the long winter evenings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-e-stevenson/one-need-never-be-dull-as-long-as-one-has-friends-to-help-gardens-to/) [D.E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) > [There is something very appealing about a room which one occupied as a child; it brings back one's childhood more vividly than anything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-e-stevenson/there-is-something-very-appealing-about-a-room-which-one-occupied-as/) [D.E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) > [“No, but he’s on his way to it,’ she replies. ‘You don’t think I’m wrong to try to influence Guthrie’s life, do you, Hester?’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-e-stevenson/no-but-he-s-on-his-way-to-it-she-replies-you-don-t-think-i-m-wrong-to/) [D.E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) [Explore all 68 D.E. Stevenson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-e-stevenson/) ## More Another chance quotes > [“I finally decided to adopt guidelines rather than set a budget. If it could be done at home, skip it. If I had done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-k-stevens/i-finally-decided-to-adopt-guidelines-rather-than-set-a-budget-if-it/) [Kristine K. Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-k-stevens/) > [Russia may soon get another chance to move closer to the West, to make a step - I do believe the first step toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-voinovich/russia-may-soon-get-another-chance-to-move-closer-to-the-west-to-make/) [Vladimir Voinovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-voinovich/) > [“Give me another chance," I ask urgently. 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I am super sorry but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/savannah-j/leave-me-alone-can-t-you-see-that-i-am-already-hurt-enough-without/) [Savannah J](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/savannah-j/) > [Never hold back in life, because you may never get another chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-hold-back-in-life-because-you-may-never-get-another-chance/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“What is the charm in dying when we fully well know that we are not going to get another chance at living?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geetha-tg/what-is-the-charm-in-dying-when-we-fully-well-know-that-we-are-not/) [Geetha TG](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geetha-tg/) > [I'd love to have another chance to represent my country in the Olympics. If I'm healthy, absolutely... 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"I need another chance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-ellen-malpas/i-m-so-so-sorry-i-don-t-deserve-it-but-give-me-a-chance-he-squeezes/) [Jodi Ellen Malpas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-ellen-malpas/) > [“I think I'm more curious than I used to be - curious about why people live like they do and how they make sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-williams/i-think-i-m-more-curious-than-i-used-to-be-curious-about-why-people/) [Dee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee-williams/) > [“The woman knows from living with the abusive man that there are no simple answers. Friends say: “He’s mean.” But she knows many ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lundy-bancroft/the-woman-knows-from-living-with-the-abusive-man-that-there-are-no/) [Lundy Bancroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lundy-bancroft/) [Browse all 437 Another chance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/another-chance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We agree that it is too late to think of visiting Cousin Ellen today – in fact if we do not hurry home we shall be late for dinner (an eventuality which cannot be contemplated with equanimity). As we near home and the hour advances, I beseech Tim to hurry. He replies indignantly that he will do nothing of the kind; why should we race home, jeopardising our very lives, for the sake of a cantankerous old woman (only he does not say ‘woman’)? Do I realise – he says bitterly – that I am becoming absolutely under the creature’s thumb? Reply that I do realise it. He then says why on earth don’t I get rid of the brute? Reply that I am too frightened of her. Tim says the thing is absolutely preposterous, Cook must go. Fortunately, we arrive just in time for dinner, and it is such an excellent meal that Tim’s heart is softened, and he says we had better give her another chance, but I must take a strong line with her and stand no nonsense. Make no reply to this command as I feel in my bones I shall not be able to comply with it.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "D.E. 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