--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was amusement enough to be with a…" description: "\"“It was amusement enough to be with a group of fearless and talkative girls, who said new things in a new language, who were ignorant of tradition and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/edith-wharton-512_amusement_it-was-amusement-enough-to-be-with-a-gro_3195776.jpg" --- # It was amusement enough to be with a group of fearless and… ![“It was amusement enough to be with a group of fearless and talkative girls, who said new things in a new language, who were ignorant of tradition and unimpressed by distinctions of rank; but it was soon clear that their young hostesses must be treated with the same respect, if not with the same…” quote by Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/edith-wharton-512_amusement_it-was-amusement-enough-to-be-with-a-gro_3195776.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/edith-wharton-512_amusement_it-was-amusement-enough-to-be-with-a-gro_3195776.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/edith-wharton-512_amusement_it-was-amusement-enough-to-be-with-a-gro_3195776.jpg) > ““It was amusement enough to be with a group of fearless and talkative girls, who said new things in a new language, who were ignorant of tradition and unimpressed by distinctions of rank; but it was soon clear that their young hostesses must be treated with the same respect, if not with the same ceremony as English girls of good family.”” [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Young, outspoken women challenge tradition, yet still deserve respect equal to established English girls. **In simple terms:** Respect all women regardless of background. Key Takeaway Treat all women with equal respect. Themes gender class respect tradition youth social norms Mood thoughtful critical Type social cultural When to use this quote - social gatherings - education - workplace - family events - public discourse Key Concepts feminism social hierarchy cultural critique Questions to Reflect On - How can we honor both tradition and equality? - What steps ensure respect across social divides? A Different Perspective Respect may clash with entrenched class expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amusement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amusement/) [Ceremony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ceremony/) [Distinction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinction/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Fearless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fearless/) [Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl/) [Good family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-family/) [Hostesses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hostesses/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [New things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-things/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) ## Related quotes > [“The allegation that English girls had no conversation must be true; but theirs was a SPEAKING silence. Their eyes and smiles were eloquent! She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/the-allegation-that-english-girls-had-no-conversation-must-be-true/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [I love to listen to talkative girls. I like 'hyper' types.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varun-tej/i-love-to-listen-to-talkative-girls-i-like-hyper-types/) [Varun Tej](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varun-tej/) > [When I was younger, I played a lot of upper-class English girls. Then I came to America, and everyone was like, 'She's very believable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juno-temple/when-i-was-younger-i-played-a-lot-of-upper-class-english-girls-then-i/) [Juno Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juno-temple/) > [There's a thing in the U.K., particularly in London, where it's kind of the idea of subculture and counterculture and the outside and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edie-campbell/there-s-a-thing-in-the-u-k-particularly-in-london-where-it-s-kind-of-2/) [Edie Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edie-campbell/) > [I love English girls! I adore all their different accents. Who knows, I could find a British girlfriend on my travels!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-butler/i-love-english-girls-i-adore-all-their-different-accents-who-knows-i/) [Austin Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-butler/) > [English girls' schools today providing the higher education are, so far as my knowledge goes, worthily representative of that astonishing rise in the intellectual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-augusta-ward/english-girls-schools-today-providing-the-higher-education-are-so-far/) [Mary Augusta Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-augusta-ward/) > [There's a thing in the U.K., particularly in London, where it's kind of the idea of subculture and counterculture and the outside and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edie-campbell/there-s-a-thing-in-the-u-k-particularly-in-london-where-it-s-kind-of/) [Edie Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edie-campbell/) > [I was out with a friend and he came over with a pair of girls. I said to him "They're like buses." He said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carr/i-was-out-with-a-friend-and-he-came-over-with-a-pair-of-girls-i-said/) [Jimmy Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carr/) > [I remember going to him (Richard England) and saying, “You know, how come you don't give me any parts?” I did Raymonda and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jaffe/i-remember-going-to-him-richard-england-and-saying-you-know-how-come/) Susan Jaffe > [That's the worst of girls," said Edmund to Peter and the Dwarf. "They never can carry a map in their heads." "That's because our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-s-the-worst-of-girls-said-edmund-to-peter-and-the-dwarf-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Girls said boys are good liars. Girls wear over-sized bras and make up to hide their natural face. Practice what you preach, ladies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/girls-said-boys-are-good-liars-girls-wear-over-sized-bras-and-make-up/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“She and I, we were girls who never said anything. Never wanted to assume anything. It was a coping mechanism, saving our faces for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mina-v-esguerra/she-and-i-we-were-girls-who-never-said-anything-never-wanted-to/) [Mina V. Esguerra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mina-v-esguerra/) > [The girls said she was too cynical about love, but how could you not be? On the surface, relations between men and women were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-courtney-sullivan/the-girls-said-she-was-too-cynical-about-love-but-how-could-you-not/) [J. Courtney Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-courtney-sullivan/) > [“Uncle, I have discovered what girls are made for," said Rose, the day after the reconciliation of Archie and the Prince. "Well, my dear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/uncle-i-have-discovered-what-girls-are-made-for-said-rose-the-day/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [An eminent teacher of girls said, "the idea of a girl's education, is, whatever qualifies them for going to Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/an-eminent-teacher-of-girls-said-the-idea-of-a-girl-s-education-is/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More by Edith Wharton > [“Suddenly the air was full of that deep clangor of bells which periodically covers Rome with a roof of silver.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/suddenly-the-air-was-full-of-that-deep-clangor-of-bells-which/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [“Untrained human nature was not frank and innocent; it was full of the twists and defences of an instinctive guile. And he felt himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/untrained-human-nature-was-not-frank-and-innocent-it-was-full-of-the/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [“High Pasture Come up--come up: in the dim vale below The autumn mist muffles the fading trees, But on this keen hill-pasture, though the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/high-pasture-come-up-come-up-in-the-dim-vale-below-the-autumn-mist/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [“Two ways to be a light for all, is to be a flaming candle or the mirror that reflects it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/two-ways-to-be-a-light-for-all-is-to-be-a-flaming-candle-or-the/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [“... no treasure-house of Atreus was ever as rich as a well-stored memory.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/no-treasure-house-of-atreus-was-ever-as-rich-as-a-well-stored-memory/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [“...the endless labour of rolling human stupidity up the steep hill of understanding.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/the-endless-labour-of-rolling-human-stupidity-up-the-steep-hill-of/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [“he saw his marriage becoming what most of the other marriages about him were: a dull association of material and social interests held together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/he-saw-his-marriage-becoming-what-most-of-the-other-marriages-about/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [The real loneliness is living among all these kind people who only ask one to pretend!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/the-real-loneliness-is-living-among-all-these-kind-people-who-only/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [With a shiver of foreboding he saw his marriage becoming what most of the other marriages about him were: a dull association of material…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/with-a-shiver-of-foreboding-he-saw-his-marriage-becoming-what-most-of/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [Life is the saddest thing there is, next to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/life-is-the-saddest-thing-there-is-next-to-death/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [A classic is classic not because it conforms to certain structural rules, or fits certain definitions (of which its author had quite probably never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/a-classic-is-classic-not-because-it-conforms-to-certain-structural/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [There is too much sour grapes for my taste in the present American attitude. The time to denounce the bankers was when we were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/there-is-too-much-sour-grapes-for-my-taste-in-the-present-american/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [“But in a few years more perhaps there may be; for, deep within us as the ghost instinct lurks, I seem to see it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/but-in-a-few-years-more-perhaps-there-may-be-for-deep-within-us-as/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [Dialogue in fiction should be reserved for the culminating moments and regarded as the spray into which the great wave of narrative breaks in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/dialogue-in-fiction-should-be-reserved-for-the-culminating-moments/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [“These Americans, under their forthcoming manner, their surface-gush, as some might call it, have an odd reticence about what goes on underneath.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/these-americans-under-their-forthcoming-manner-their-surface-gush-as/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) [Explore all 504 Edith Wharton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) ## More Amusement quotes > [Cultivate the habit of thinking ahead, and of anticipating the necessary and immediate consequences of all your actions… Likewise in your pleasures, ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/cultivate-the-habit-of-thinking-ahead-and-of-anticipating-the/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Every producer in Hollywood had set me down as a type. I was both amused and disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/every-producer-in-hollywood-had-set-me-down-as-a-type-i-was-both/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) > [By amusing myself with all these games, all this nonsense, all these picture puzzles, I became famous... I am only a public entertainer who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/by-amusing-myself-with-all-these-games-all-this-nonsense-all-these/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [I just started writing for my own amusement and occasionally singing in little clubs around Los Angeles. Then I wrote 'The Rose,' and through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-mcbroom/i-just-started-writing-for-my-own-amusement-and-occasionally-singing/) [Amanda McBroom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-mcbroom/) > [Happiness does not consist in pastimes and amusements but in virtuous activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/happiness-does-not-consist-in-pastimes-and-amusements-but-in-virtuous/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city you go into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-mass-of-men-lead-lives-of-quiet-desperation-what-is-called/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Ordinary people simply don't know what books mean to us, shut up here. Reading, learning, and the radio are our amusements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/ordinary-people-simply-don-t-know-what-books-mean-to-us-shut-up-here/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [My first job was at an amusement park in Virginia. It was the worst. I loved the park but once I'd worked there all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-mcbride/my-first-job-was-at-an-amusement-park-in-virginia-it-was-the-worst-i/) [Danny McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-mcbride/) > [The Stoics say, "Retire within yourselves; it is there you will find your rest." And that is not true. Others say, "Go out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-stoics-say-retire-within-yourselves-it-is-there-you-will-find/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [I realized, "Gee, you're making the same film over and over here." I just kept making them for my own amusement, but also with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/i-realized-gee-you-re-making-the-same-film-over-and-over-here-i-just/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [I like these boots," I told Vayl. "Do you think they'd sell them to me cheap? I keep ruining mine." "Since when do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rardin/i-like-these-boots-i-told-vayl-do-you-think-they-d-sell-them-to-me/) [Jennifer Rardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rardin/) > [It has to be now,” he insisted, a flick of amusement in his voice. He nudged his burgeoning loins against her. “After all, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/it-has-to-be-now-he-insisted-a-flick-of-amusement-in-his-voice-he/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [Act as if the universe is a prodigious miracle created for your amusement and illumination. Assume that secret helpers are working behind the scenes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/act-as-if-the-universe-is-a-prodigious-miracle-created-for-your/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) > [Amusement that is excessive and followed only for its own sake, allures and deceives us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/amusement-that-is-excessive-and-followed-only-for-its-own-sake/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) [Browse all 567 Amusement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amusement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It was amusement enough to be with a group of fearless and talkative girls, who said new things in a new language, who were ignorant of tradition and unimpressed by distinctions of rank; but it was soon clear that their young hostesses must be treated with the same respect, if not with the same ceremony as English girls of good family.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edith Wharton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/it-was-amusement-enough-to-be-with-a-group-of-fearless-and-talkative/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Amusement" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/it-was-amusement-enough-to-be-with-a-group-of-fearless-and-talkative/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/edith-wharton-512_amusement_it-was-amusement-enough-to-be-with-a-gro_3195776.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/edith-wharton-512_amusement_it-was-amusement-enough-to-be-with-a-gro_3195776.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/edith-wharton-512_amusement_it-was-amusement-enough-to-be-with-a-gro_3195776.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It was amusement enough to be with a group of fearless and talkative girls, who said new things in a new…” — Edith Wharton", "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": "Edith Wharton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It was amusement enough to be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/it-was-amusement-enough-to-be-with-a-group-of-fearless-and-talkative/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/it-was-amusement-enough-to-be-with-a-group-of-fearless-and-talkative/#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 } } ] } ```