--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What could he and she really know of each…" description: "\"“What could he and she really know of each other, since it was his duty, as a \"decent\" fellow, to conceal his past from her, and hers, as a marriageabl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/649/edith-wharton-512_falsehood_what-could-he-and-she-really-know-of-eac_2147675.png" --- # What could he and she really know of each other, since it… ![“What could he and she really know of each other, since it was his duty, as a "decent" fellow, to conceal his past from her, and hers, as a marriageable girl, to have no past to conceal?” quote by Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/649/edith-wharton-512_falsehood_what-could-he-and-she-really-know-of-eac_2147675.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/649/edith-wharton-512_falsehood_what-could-he-and-she-really-know-of-eac_2147675.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/649/edith-wharton-512_falsehood_what-could-he-and-she-really-know-of-eac_2147675.png) > ““What could he and she really know of each other, since it was his duty, as a "decent" fellow, to conceal his past from her, and hers, as a marriageable girl, to have no past to conceal?”” [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. The quote highlights the social expectation for both genders to hide pasts, creating a marriage built on secrecy and false authenticity. **In simple terms:** Both partners conceal histories; marriage becomes a façade. Key Takeaway Promote honesty in relationships. Themes relationships society secrecy authenticity gender roles Mood reflective critical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - marriage counseling - family dynamics - personal honesty - social critique Key Concepts Sociology psychology gender studies Questions to Reflect On - What secrets affect your relationships? - Can true authenticity exist within social norms? A Different Perspective Complete transparency is often impossible. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conceal Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conceal-past-1055052/) [Falsehood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falsehood/) [Fellow Conceal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fellow-conceal-4501156/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Marriageable Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriageable-girl-4501155/) [Past Conceal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-conceal-1055053/) [Past Marriageable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-marriageable-4501154/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“But it is no use to justify yourself. It is no good to explain. It is weak to be anecdotal. 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It is a fight to the finish, the slaying of evil desires and all falsehood within. 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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. 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