--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The pityingly look made Sophie utterly…" description: "\"“The pityingly look made Sophie utterly ashamed. He was such a dashing specimen too, with a bony, sophisticated face--really quite oold, well into his ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b2/diana-wynne-jones-1486_ashamed_the-pityingly-look-made-sophie-utterly-a_3042531.jpg" --- # The pityingly look made Sophie utterly ashamed. He was… ![“The pityingly look made Sophie utterly ashamed. He was such a dashing specimen too, with a bony, sophisticated face--really quite oold, well into his twenties--- and elaborate blond hair. His sleeves trailed longer than any in the Square, all scalloped edges and silver insets. "Oh, no thank you…” quote by Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b2/diana-wynne-jones-1486_ashamed_the-pityingly-look-made-sophie-utterly-a_3042531.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b2/diana-wynne-jones-1486_ashamed_the-pityingly-look-made-sophie-utterly-a_3042531.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b2/diana-wynne-jones-1486_ashamed_the-pityingly-look-made-sophie-utterly-a_3042531.jpg) > ““The pityingly look made Sophie utterly ashamed. He was such a dashing specimen too, with a bony, sophisticated face--really quite oold, well into his twenties--- and elaborate blond hair. His sleeves trailed longer than any in the Square, all scalloped edges and silver insets. "Oh, no thank you, if you please, sir," Sophie stammered. "I--I'm only on my way to see my sister." "Then by all means do so," laughed this advanced young man. "Who am i to keep a pretty lady from her sister? Would you like me to go with you, since you seemed so cared?" He meant it kindly, which made Sophie, more ashamed than ever. "No. No thank you, sir!" she gasped and fled away past him. He wore perfume too.”” [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Sophie feels embarrassed by a man's condescending attention, highlighting social awkwardness and class tension. **In simple terms:** Sophie is embarrassed by a man's attention. Key Takeaway Respect personal boundaries and be aware of power dynamics. Themes embarrassment social class gender dynamics Mood awkward reflective Type literary dialogue When to use this quote - school hallway - first meeting - social event - unwanted flirtation Key Concepts condescension social anxiety power imbalance Questions to Reflect On - How does class affect interpersonal interactions? - When is polite refusal insufficient? A Different Perspective The man's charm may mask underlying patronizing behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ashamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashamed/) [Kindly Sophie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindly-sophie-5021984/) [Pretty lady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretty-lady/) [Sophie Ashamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sophie-ashamed-5021983/) [Sophie Stammered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sophie-stammered-3307801/) [Wore Perfume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wore-perfume-2024909/) [Young man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-man/) ## Related quotes > [“Um, h-h-hi,” Sophie stammered, closing the door behind her. Meeting her gaze were crystal eyes like blue shards of glass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lane/um-h-h-hi-sophie-stammered-closing-the-door-behind-her-meeting-her/) [Jennifer Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lane/) > [“She was white, wore perfume and smiled openly with the Negro customers, so I knew she was sophisticated. Other people's sophistication tended to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/she-was-white-wore-perfume-and-smiled-openly-with-the-negro-customers/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [If I see a beautiful woman walking down the street, a pretty lady, I'll yell, 'Homo!' She can't get pissed, and I still get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-posehn/if-i-see-a-beautiful-woman-walking-down-the-street-a-pretty-lady-i-ll/) [Brian Posehn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-posehn/) > [“If you know so much,then tell me of Lily or are you too swayed by her beauty?" "Aye,she's beautiful, but also complicated and young.She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-sinclair/if-you-know-so-much-then-tell-me-of-lily-or-are-you-too-swayed-by-her/) [Michele Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-sinclair/) > [“She’d best get the hell outta here pretty damn quick. Finally he stood and tossed some cash on the littered table then glanced at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-carlysle/she-d-best-get-the-hell-outta-here-pretty-damn-quick-finally-he-stood/) [Regina Carlysle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-carlysle/) > [“He smirked. “Decision time, pretty lady... back to reality?” She touched his cheek. “Or down the rabbit hole?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-vander-ark-2/he-smirked-decision-time-pretty-lady-back-to-reality-she-touched-his/) [Jake Vander-Ark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-vander-ark-2/) > [Beauty is not in the face; Beauty is a light in the something you do daily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-murdock/beauty-is-not-in-the-face-beauty-is-a-light-in-the-something-you-do/) [Mike Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-murdock/) > [“We're not really dating per se,' Leigh said. Nate grinned. 'I wouldn't be so sure about that, pretty lady. I know my brother's tastes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/destiny-booze/we-re-not-really-dating-per-se-leigh-said-nate-grinned-i-wouldn-t-be/) [Destiny Booze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/destiny-booze/) > [See this this amazing girl that I love to death and back and I said some thing and I made her cry my bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luna/see-this-this-amazing-girl-that-i-love-to-death-and-back-and-i-said/) [Luna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luna/) > [No body seems to get you You feel your on your own But listen pretty lady you don't have to be alone. So baby…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade/no-body-seems-to-get-you-you-feel-your-on-your-own-but-listen-pretty/) [Jade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade/) > [“Green tree. Pretty lady. Car. Car. Truck,” she recites, naming out loud almost everything she sees. “Don’t mind me, I’m a gabberbox,” she chuckles.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/green-tree-pretty-lady-car-car-truck-she-recites-naming-out-loud/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [“somewhere between hello and I want this job, he'd lost all business sense and hired the pretty lady just because she wanted the job.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-wilson/somewhere-between-hello-and-i-want-this-job-he-d-lost-all-business/) [Dolores Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-wilson/) > [“In Boston he met a pretty lady, fat and forty, but beautiful with the bloom of cash and collateral.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flann-o-brien/in-boston-he-met-a-pretty-lady-fat-and-forty-but-beautiful-with-the/) [Flann O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flann-o-brien/) > [“The best self is a beautiful soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-best-self-is-a-beautiful-soul/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“I've already got the storm figured out. Some idiot blew up the sun. Some dumb Russian general pushed the wrong button and launched one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/i-ve-already-got-the-storm-figured-out-some-idiot-blew-up-the-sun/) [Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/) ## More by Diana Wynne Jones > [“Sophie and Howl were living - somewhat quarrelsomely it must be confessed, although they were said to be happiest that way - in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/sophie-and-howl-were-living-somewhat-quarrelsomely-it-must-be/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“What did you do?" said Charles. "You know that night all our shoes went into the hall," said Nirupam. "Well, we had a feast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/what-did-you-do-said-charles-you-know-that-night-all-our-shoes-went/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [Take it from me, Fate doesn't care most of the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/take-it-from-me-fate-doesn-t-care-most-of-the-time/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“For a moment it seemed as if he was going to lose his temper too. His strange, pale eyes all but glared at Sophie.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/for-a-moment-it-seemed-as-if-he-was-going-to-lose-his-temper-too-his/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [The truth between two people always cuts two ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/the-truth-between-two-people-always-cuts-two-ways/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“The soldier was like that. He was an expert in getting other people to do what he wanted. The only creature that could make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/the-soldier-was-like-that-he-was-an-expert-in-getting-other-people-to/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [Beauty isn't made of sugar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/beauty-isn-t-made-of-sugar/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“Not likely!” Howl yelled. “I’m a coward. Only way I can do something this frightening is to tell my self I’m not doing it!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/not-likely-howl-yelled-i-m-a-coward-only-way-i-can-do-something-this/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“Typical!” he said to Sophie. “ I break my neck to get here, and I find you peacefully tidying up!” Sophie looked up at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/typical-he-said-to-sophie-i-break-my-neck-to-get-here-and-i-find-you/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“Howl said, "I think we ought to live happily ever after," and she thought he meant it. Sophie knew that living happily ever after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/howl-said-i-think-we-ought-to-live-happily-ever-after-and-she-thought/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [Busy old fool, unruly Sophie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/busy-old-fool-unruly-sophie/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [But whoever heard of enchanted bacon anyway?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/but-whoever-heard-of-enchanted-bacon-anyway/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [“Then the geese replaced themselves with six pigs and vanished.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/then-the-geese-replaced-themselves-with-six-pigs-and-vanished/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [If I give you a hint and tell you it's a hint, it will be information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/if-i-give-you-a-hint-and-tell-you-it-s-a-hint-it-will-be-information/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [I only want to catch you,” Michael explained. “I won’t hurt you.” “No! No!” the star crackled desperately. “That’s wrong! I’m supposed to die!”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/i-only-want-to-catch-you-michael-explained-i-won-t-hurt-you-no-no-the/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) [Explore all 232 Diana Wynne Jones quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) ## More Ashamed quotes > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I know what you're thinking... and you oughtta be ashamed of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-preston/i-know-what-you-re-thinking-and-you-oughtta-be-ashamed-of-yourself/) [Robert Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-preston/) > [You never meet the writer when you're making a TV movie in America - they're too ashamed to show up and see how their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-don-baker/you-never-meet-the-writer-when-you-re-making-a-tv-movie-in-america/) [Joe Don Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-don-baker/) > [I'm not ashamed of the things I believe and why I believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/i-m-not-ashamed-of-the-things-i-believe-and-why-i-believe-them/) [Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [“with her own life. And I was ashamed.” Humiliated. Broken. Miserable. If Wilcher had stood by Jaymee, if her father hadn’t berated her, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-green/with-her-own-life-and-i-was-ashamed-humiliated-broken-miserable-if/) [Stacy Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-green/) > [You should avoid hedging, at least that's what I think. You should be ashamed to die until you've made some contribution to mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-johns/you-should-avoid-hedging-at-least-that-s-what-i-think-you-should-be/) [Vernon Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-johns/) > [There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. Just like it was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/there-was-no-mistake-in-us-making-abortion-legal-and-available-on/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [“When all are undressed, one is somehow not ashamed, but when one's the only one undressed and everybody is looking, it's degrading,' he kept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/when-all-are-undressed-one-is-somehow-not-ashamed-but-when-one-s-the/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [There are a great many colored people who are ashamed of the cake-walk, but I think they ought to be proud of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-weldon-johnson/there-are-a-great-many-colored-people-who-are-ashamed-of-the-cake/) [James Weldon Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-weldon-johnson/) > [I love him who is ashamed when the dice fall in his favour, and who then asketh: "Am I a dishonest player?" - for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/i-love-him-who-is-ashamed-when-the-dice-fall-in-his-favour-and-who/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zondervan-publishing/whoever-is-ashamed-of-me-and-my-words-the-son-of-man-will-be-ashamed/) [Zondervan Publishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zondervan-publishing/) > [You were never created to live depressed, defeated, guilty, condemned, ashamed or unworthy. You were created to be victorious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/you-were-never-created-to-live-depressed-defeated-guilty-condemned/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I never wonder to see men wicked, but I often wonder to see them not ashamed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/i-never-wonder-to-see-men-wicked-but-i-often-wonder-to-see-them-not/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [“To survive during the Khmer Rouge, you had to steal, cheat, lie, point fingers at others, even kill. And now you are ashamed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-brinkley/to-survive-during-the-khmer-rouge-you-had-to-steal-cheat-lie-point/) [Joel Brinkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-brinkley/) [Browse all 1,607 Ashamed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashamed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The pityingly look made Sophie utterly ashamed. He was such a dashing specimen too, with a bony, sophisticated face--really quite oold, well into his twenties--- and elaborate blond hair. His sleeves trailed longer than any in the Square, all scalloped edges and silver insets. \"Oh, no thank you, if you please, sir,\" Sophie stammered. \"I--I'm only on my way to see my sister.\" \"Then by all means do so,\" laughed this advanced young man. \"Who am i to keep a pretty lady from her sister? Would you like me to go with you, since you seemed so cared?\" He meant it kindly, which made Sophie, more ashamed than ever. \"No. No thank you, sir!\" she gasped and fled away past him. 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