Believe Quote by Dorothy L. Sayers
“Philip wasn't the sort of man to make a friend of a woman. He wanted devotion. I gave him that. I did, you know. But I couldn't stand being made a fool of. I couldn;t stand being put on probation, like an office-boy, to see if I was good enough to be condescended to. I quite thought he was honest when he said he didn't believe in marriage -- and then it turned out that it was a test, to see whether my devotion was abject enough. Well, it wasn't. I didn't like having matrimony offered as a bad-conduct prize.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Unfinished Tales, 1931
A man seeks devotion but manipulates love as a test, revealing power dynamics and betrayal in relationships.
In simple terms: He wanted devotion but used it to control.
Key Takeaway
Beware of love that demands obedience.
Themes
trust
power
betrayal
gender
relationships
Mood
cautious
reflective
skeptical
Type
literary
critical
psychological
When to use this quote
- romantic partnership
- workplace hierarchy
- friendship
- personal boundaries
Key Concepts
Manipulation
control
testing
faithfulness
emotional abuse
Questions to Reflect On
- Is devotion worth sacrificing self‑respect?
- How do power imbalances shape love?
A Different Perspective
The quote assumes devotion is inherently noble, ignoring mutual respect.
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