--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A lady both callous and brash Met a man…" description: "\"“A lady both callous and brash Met a man with a vast black moustache; She cried, 'Shave it, O do! And I'll put it with glue On my hat as a sort of pana..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb1/edward-gorey-9339_moustache_a-lady-both-callous-and-brash-met-a-man_554374.jpg" --- # A lady both callous and brash Met a man with a vast black… ![“A lady both callous and brash Met a man with a vast black moustache; She cried, 'Shave it, O do! And I'll put it with glue On my hat as a sort of panache.” quote by Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb1/edward-gorey-9339_moustache_a-lady-both-callous-and-brash-met-a-man_554374.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb1/edward-gorey-9339_moustache_a-lady-both-callous-and-brash-met-a-man_554374.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb1/edward-gorey-9339_moustache_a-lady-both-callous-and-brash-met-a-man_554374.jpg) > ““A lady both callous and brash Met a man with a vast black moustache; She cried, 'Shave it, O do! And I'll put it with glue On my hat as a sort of panache.”” [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A whimsical, macabre scene where a woman demands a man's moustache be shaved and displayed as a flamboyant accessory. **In simple terms:** A bizarre request for a moustache as a fashion statement. Key Takeaway Embrace absurdity and humor in dark contexts. Themes absurdity humor darkness Mood playful macabre whimsical Type literary satirical When to use this quote - costume design - theatrical performance - creative writing - artistic illustration Key Concepts Gothic satire visual comedy Questions to Reflect On - What does the moustache symbolize for you? - How can absurdity reveal deeper truths? A Different Perspective The humor may alienate those uncomfortable with macabre themes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [Never put anything on paper, my boy, and never trust a man with a small black moustache.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse-2/never-put-anything-on-paper-my-boy-and-never-trust-a-man-with-a-small/) [P. G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse-2/) > [The fellows who amuze me are the Albanians. An Albanian on the mash is almost exactly like the medieval swells of the Italian frescoes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-durham/the-fellows-who-amuze-me-are-the-albanians-an-albanian-on-the-mash-is/) Edith Durham > [ I hope everyone can give the audience that real, true experience. But Mandy \[Moore\] and I, we definitely jump decades, and I think trying… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milo-ventimiglia/i-hope-everyone-can-give-the-audience-that-real-true-experience-but/) [Milo Ventimiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milo-ventimiglia/) > [In the old days villains had moustaches and kicked the dog. Audiences are smarter today. They don't want their villain to be thrown at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-hitchcock/in-the-old-days-villains-had-moustaches-and-kicked-the-dog-audiences/) [Alfred Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-hitchcock/) > [“You have a magnificent moustache. You must be very proud of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/you-have-a-magnificent-moustache-you-must-be-very-proud-of-it/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [I don't think I'd rock a moustache. I don't mind growing a beard. I think it's just a guy thing. We like to nurture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-magnussen/i-don-t-think-i-d-rock-a-moustache-i-don-t-mind-growing-a-beard-i/) [James Magnussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-magnussen/) > [I got a tooth bust by somebody who decided they didn't like me and I thought the moustache hid a scar on my lip.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-ainsworth/i-got-a-tooth-bust-by-somebody-who-decided-they-didn-t-like-me-and-i/) [Bob Ainsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-ainsworth/) > [He gazed up at the enormous face. Forty years it had taken him to learn what kind of smile was hidden beneath the dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/he-gazed-up-at-the-enormous-face-forty-years-it-had-taken-him-to/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [I had Halloween parties every year, as it was my birthday five days before. My parents would actually put prosthetic noses on, and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bat-for-lashes/i-had-halloween-parties-every-year-as-it-was-my-birthday-five-days/) [Bat for Lashes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bat-for-lashes/) > [Men always talk about the most important things to perfect strangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/men-always-talk-about-the-most-important-things-to-perfect-strangers/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [The rest of my days I'm going to spend on the sea. And when I die, I'm going to die on the sea. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/the-rest-of-my-days-i-m-going-to-spend-on-the-sea-and-when-i-die-i-m/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [The curious thing about that moustache and goatee is that when you look at the Mona Lisa it becomes a man. It is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/the-curious-thing-about-that-moustache-and-goatee-is-that-when-you/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [They chose me for Lawrence of Arabia because I spoke English, had black hair, black eyes and a moustache. It was all luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-sharif/they-chose-me-for-lawrence-of-arabia-because-i-spoke-english-had/) [Omar Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-sharif/) > [I have a permanent moustache so I can be a 'Movator:' I take random telephone numbers and ring people up and 'movate' them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-boorman/i-have-a-permanent-moustache-so-i-can-be-a-movator-i-take-random/) [Charley Boorman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-boorman/) > [I think there is nothing sexier than a handlebar moustache.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isla-fisher/i-think-there-is-nothing-sexier-than-a-handlebar-moustache/) [Isla Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isla-fisher/) ## More by Edward Gorey > [I have given up considering happiness as relevant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/i-have-given-up-considering-happiness-as-relevant/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [Interviewer: What is your greatest regret? Gorey: That I don't have one](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/interviewer-what-is-your-greatest-regret-gorey-that-i-don-t-have-one/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [I should like a parsley sandwich. To the best of my knowledge they are not in season.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/i-should-like-a-parsley-sandwich-to-the-best-of-my-knowledge-they-are/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [I really think I write about everyday life. I don't think I'm quite as odd as others say I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/i-really-think-i-write-about-everyday-life-i-don-t-think-i-m-quite-as/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [There was a young lady named Mae Who smoked without stopping all day; As pack followed pack, Her lungs first turned black, And eventually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/there-was-a-young-lady-named-mae-who-smoked-without-stopping-all-day/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [“Apropos of nothing at all except that it has been on my mind and I think I had better say it because it accounts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/apropos-of-nothing-at-all-except-that-it-has-been-on-my-mind-and-i/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [Vice is nice, but a little virtue won't hurt you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/vice-is-nice-but-a-little-virtue-won-t-hurt-you/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [“How elegant! how choice! how gay! To think one doesn’t have to pay. There is sound of falling tears; It comes from nowhere to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/how-elegant-how-choice-how-gay-to-think-one-doesn-t-have-to-pay-there/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [I just kind of conjured them up out of my subconscious and put them in order of ascending peculiarity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/i-just-kind-of-conjured-them-up-out-of-my-subconscious-and-put-them/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [I've never had any intentions about anything. That's why I am where I am today, which is neither here nor there, in a literal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/i-ve-never-had-any-intentions-about-anything-that-s-why-i-am-where-i/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [The Suicide, as she is falling, Illuminated by the moon, Regrets her act, and finds appalling The thought she will be dead so soon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/the-suicide-as-she-is-falling-illuminated-by-the-moon-regrets-her-act/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [“He presented it with a length of string and passed on to the statue of Corrupted Endeavor to await the arrival of Autumn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/he-presented-it-with-a-length-of-string-and-passed-on-to-the-statue/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [I don't know what it is I'm doing. But it's not that. Despite all evidence to the contrary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/i-don-t-know-what-it-is-i-m-doing-but-it-s-not-that-despite-all/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [I realize that homosexuality is a serious problem for anyone who is - but then, of course, heterosexuality is a serious problem for anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/i-realize-that-homosexuality-is-a-serious-problem-for-anyone-who-is/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [I really think I write about everyday life. I don't think I'm quite as odd as others say I am. Life is intrinsically, well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/i-really-think-i-write-about-everyday-life-i-don-t-think-i-m-quite-as-2/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) [Explore all 73 Edward Gorey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) ## More Moustache quotes > [I think there is nothing sexier than a handlebar moustache.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isla-fisher/i-think-there-is-nothing-sexier-than-a-handlebar-moustache/) [Isla Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isla-fisher/) > [I have a permanent moustache so I can be a 'Movator:' I take random telephone numbers and ring people up and 'movate' them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-boorman/i-have-a-permanent-moustache-so-i-can-be-a-movator-i-take-random/) [Charley Boorman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-boorman/) > [They chose me for Lawrence of Arabia because I spoke English, had black hair, black eyes and a moustache. It was all luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-sharif/they-chose-me-for-lawrence-of-arabia-because-i-spoke-english-had/) [Omar Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-sharif/) > [The curious thing about that moustache and goatee is that when you look at the Mona Lisa it becomes a man. It is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/the-curious-thing-about-that-moustache-and-goatee-is-that-when-you/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [The rest of my days I'm going to spend on the sea. And when I die, I'm going to die on the sea. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/the-rest-of-my-days-i-m-going-to-spend-on-the-sea-and-when-i-die-i-m/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [Men always talk about the most important things to perfect strangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/men-always-talk-about-the-most-important-things-to-perfect-strangers/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [I had Halloween parties every year, as it was my birthday five days before. My parents would actually put prosthetic noses on, and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bat-for-lashes/i-had-halloween-parties-every-year-as-it-was-my-birthday-five-days/) [Bat for Lashes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bat-for-lashes/) > [He gazed up at the enormous face. Forty years it had taken him to learn what kind of smile was hidden beneath the dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/he-gazed-up-at-the-enormous-face-forty-years-it-had-taken-him-to/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [I got a tooth bust by somebody who decided they didn't like me and I thought the moustache hid a scar on my lip.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-ainsworth/i-got-a-tooth-bust-by-somebody-who-decided-they-didn-t-like-me-and-i/) [Bob Ainsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-ainsworth/) > [I don't think I'd rock a moustache. I don't mind growing a beard. I think it's just a guy thing. We like to nurture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-magnussen/i-don-t-think-i-d-rock-a-moustache-i-don-t-mind-growing-a-beard-i/) [James Magnussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-magnussen/) > [“You have a magnificent moustache. You must be very proud of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/you-have-a-magnificent-moustache-you-must-be-very-proud-of-it/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [In the old days villains had moustaches and kicked the dog. Audiences are smarter today. They don't want their villain to be thrown at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-hitchcock/in-the-old-days-villains-had-moustaches-and-kicked-the-dog-audiences/) [Alfred Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-hitchcock/) > [ I hope everyone can give the audience that real, true experience. But Mandy \[Moore\] and I, we definitely jump decades, and I think trying… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milo-ventimiglia/i-hope-everyone-can-give-the-audience-that-real-true-experience-but/) [Milo Ventimiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milo-ventimiglia/) > [The fellows who amuze me are the Albanians. An Albanian on the mash is almost exactly like the medieval swells of the Italian frescoes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-durham/the-fellows-who-amuze-me-are-the-albanians-an-albanian-on-the-mash-is/) Edith Durham > [A lesser moustache, under the impact of that quick, agonised expulsion of breath, would have worked loose at the roots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-lesser-moustache-under-the-impact-of-that-quick-agonised-expulsion/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 104 Moustache quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A lady both callous and brash Met a man with a vast black moustache; She cried, 'Shave it, O do! 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