--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There was a Young Person of Smyrna, whose…" description: "\"“There was a Young Person of Smyrna, whose grandmother threatened to burn her; But she seized on the cat, and said, \"Granny, burn that! You incongruous..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/565/edward-lear-14704_said-granny_there-was-a-young-person-of-smyrna-whose_241724.png" --- # There was a Young Person of Smyrna, whose grandmother… ![“There was a Young Person of Smyrna, whose grandmother threatened to burn her; But she seized on the cat, and said, "Granny, burn that! You incongruous old woman of Smyrna!” quote by Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/565/edward-lear-14704_said-granny_there-was-a-young-person-of-smyrna-whose_241724.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/565/edward-lear-14704_said-granny_there-was-a-young-person-of-smyrna-whose_241724.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/565/edward-lear-14704_said-granny_there-was-a-young-person-of-smyrna-whose_241724.png) > ““There was a Young Person of Smyrna, whose grandmother threatened to burn her; But she seized on the cat, and said, "Granny, burn that! You incongruous old woman of Smyrna!”” [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A young woman defies her grandmother’s threat by turning it into a humorous retort, showing wit over oppression. **In simple terms:** She uses humor to resist control. Key Takeaway Use humor to challenge authority. Themes family conflict rebellion wit Mood playful defiant Type satirical inspirational When to use this quote - family gatherings - online forums - creative writing - social media memes - stand‑up comedy Key Concepts power dynamics generational tension defiance Questions to Reflect On - When does humor empower versus trivialize? - How can wit be used responsibly in power struggles? A Different Perspective Humor may not always be effective against serious oppression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [I don't want to hurt you, Mistress Weatherwax," said Mrs Gogol. "That's good," said Granny. "I don't want you to hurt me either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-don-t-want-to-hurt-you-mistress-weatherwax-said-mrs-gogol-that-s/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Fred, Fred, Fred, I'm sick of hearing about him!' snapped Jess's mum. 'He rang the other day, and straight away you were off out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-limb/fred-fred-fred-i-m-sick-of-hearing-about-him-snapped-jess-s-mum-he/) [Sue Limb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-limb/) > [“What’s to be afraid of?’ she managed. ‘Us,’ said Granny Weatherwax, smugly. The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/what-s-to-be-afraid-of-she-managed-us-said-granny-weatherwax-smugly/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Blessings be upon this house,' said Granny, but in a voice that suggested that if blessings needed to be taken away, she could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/blessings-be-upon-this-house-said-granny-but-in-a-voice-that/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“No point in imagining anything,” said Granny. “Things are bad enough as they are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/no-point-in-imagining-anything-said-granny-things-are-bad-enough-as/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“No. The old gods ain't big on 'sorry,'" said Granny, pacing up and down again. "They know it's just a word.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/no-the-old-gods-ain-t-big-on-sorry-said-granny-pacing-up-and-down/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Things that try to look like things often do look more like things than things. Well-known fact,” said Granny. “But I don’t hold with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/things-that-try-to-look-like-things-often-do-look-more-like-things-2/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Typical artist,' said Granny. 'He just painted the showy stuff in the front... And what about these cherubs? We're not going to get them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/typical-artist-said-granny-he-just-painted-the-showy-stuff-in-the/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Here, how did you get out of the castle?" said Granny. "The esteemed Nanny Ogg assisted me," said the king. "I reasoned, if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/here-how-did-you-get-out-of-the-castle-said-granny-the-esteemed-nanny/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“But they must think we're daft, not noticing they'd left off the top slice," said Granny triumphantly. "Well, I told them a thing or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/but-they-must-think-we-re-daft-not-noticing-they-d-left-off-the-top/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“She never sent the castle to sleep”, said Granny, “that’s just an old wife’s tale. She just stirred up time a little. It’s not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/she-never-sent-the-castle-to-sleep-said-granny-that-s-just-an-old/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“I heard this story once," she said, "where this bloke got locked up for years and years and he learned amazin' stuff about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-heard-this-story-once-she-said-where-this-bloke-got-locked-up-for/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [But you ain't part of it, are you?" said Granny conversationally. "You try, but you always find yourself watchin' yourself watchin' people, eh? Never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/but-you-ain-t-part-of-it-are-you-said-granny-conversationally-you-try/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Listen, happy endings is fine if they turn out happy,” said Granny, glaring at the sky. “But you can’t make ’em for other people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/listen-happy-endings-is-fine-if-they-turn-out-happy-said-granny/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I saved a man's life once," said Granny. "Special medicine, twice a day. Boiled water with a bit of berry juice in it. Told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-saved-a-man-s-life-once-said-granny-special-medicine-twice-a-day/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## More by Edward Lear > [There was an Old Man of Messina, Whose daughter was named Opsibeena; She wore a small wig, and rode out on a pig, To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/there-was-an-old-man-of-messina-whose-daughter-was-named-opsibeena/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [“Which distressed that Old Man of Jamaica. nonsense”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/which-distressed-that-old-man-of-jamaica-nonsense/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [“Young Lady of Hull, Who was chased by a”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/young-lady-of-hull-who-was-chased-by-a/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [And what can we expect if we haven't any dinner, But to lose our teeth and eyelashes and keep on growing thinner?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/and-what-can-we-expect-if-we-haven-t-any-dinner-but-to-lose-our-teeth/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [“O lovely Pussy, O Pussy, my love, What a beautiful Pussy you are, You are, You are! What a beautiful Pussy you are!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/o-lovely-pussy-o-pussy-my-love-what-a-beautiful-pussy-you-are-you-are/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [“They went to sea in a Sieve, they did, In a Sieve they went to sea: In spite of all their friends could say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/they-went-to-sea-in-a-sieve-they-did-in-a-sieve-they-went-to-sea-in/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [“The Owl looked up to the stars above, And sang to a small guitar, "O lovely Pussy, O Pussy, my love, What a beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/the-owl-looked-up-to-the-stars-above-and-sang-to-a-small-guitar-o/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [“And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand, They danced by the light of the moon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/and-hand-in-hand-on-the-edge-of-the-sand-they-danced-by-the-light-of/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [There was a Young Lady of Poole, Whose soup was excessively cool; So she put it to boil, by the aid of some oil,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/there-was-a-young-lady-of-poole-whose-soup-was-excessively-cool-so/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [“There was an Old Man of the East, Who gave”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/there-was-an-old-man-of-the-east-who-gave/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [And if you voz to see my roziz As is a boon to all men's noziz, - You'd fall upon your back and scream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/and-if-you-voz-to-see-my-roziz-as-is-a-boon-to-all-men-s-noziz-you-d/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [There was an Old Man of the East, Who gave all his children a feast; But they all ate so much, and their conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/there-was-an-old-man-of-the-east-who-gave-all-his-children-a-feast/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea In a beautiful pea-green boat: They took some honey, and plenty of money Wrapped up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/the-owl-and-the-pussycat-went-to-sea-in-a-beautiful-pea-green-boat/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [“Fish fiddle de-dee!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/fish-fiddle-de-dee/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [“The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea In a beautiful pea green boat...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/the-owl-and-the-pussy-cat-went-to-sea-in-a-beautiful-pea-green-boat/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) [Explore all 45 Edward Lear quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) ## More Said Granny quotes > [I don't want to hurt you, Mistress Weatherwax," said Mrs Gogol. "That's good," said Granny. "I don't want you to hurt me either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-don-t-want-to-hurt-you-mistress-weatherwax-said-mrs-gogol-that-s/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Listen, happy endings is fine if they turn out happy,” said Granny, glaring at the sky. “But you can’t make ’em for other people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/listen-happy-endings-is-fine-if-they-turn-out-happy-said-granny/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [But you ain't part of it, are you?" said Granny conversationally. "You try, but you always find yourself watchin' yourself watchin' people, eh? Never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/but-you-ain-t-part-of-it-are-you-said-granny-conversationally-you-try/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“I heard this story once," she said, "where this bloke got locked up for years and years and he learned amazin' stuff about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-heard-this-story-once-she-said-where-this-bloke-got-locked-up-for/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“She never sent the castle to sleep”, said Granny, “that’s just an old wife’s tale. She just stirred up time a little. It’s not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/she-never-sent-the-castle-to-sleep-said-granny-that-s-just-an-old/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“But they must think we're daft, not noticing they'd left off the top slice," said Granny triumphantly. "Well, I told them a thing or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/but-they-must-think-we-re-daft-not-noticing-they-d-left-off-the-top/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Here, how did you get out of the castle?" said Granny. "The esteemed Nanny Ogg assisted me," said the king. "I reasoned, if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/here-how-did-you-get-out-of-the-castle-said-granny-the-esteemed-nanny/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Typical artist,' said Granny. 'He just painted the showy stuff in the front... And what about these cherubs? We're not going to get them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/typical-artist-said-granny-he-just-painted-the-showy-stuff-in-the/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Things that try to look like things often do look more like things than things. Well-known fact,” said Granny. “But I don’t hold with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/things-that-try-to-look-like-things-often-do-look-more-like-things-2/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“No. The old gods ain't big on 'sorry,'" said Granny, pacing up and down again. "They know it's just a word.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/no-the-old-gods-ain-t-big-on-sorry-said-granny-pacing-up-and-down/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“No point in imagining anything,” said Granny. “Things are bad enough as they are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/no-point-in-imagining-anything-said-granny-things-are-bad-enough-as/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Blessings be upon this house,' said Granny, but in a voice that suggested that if blessings needed to be taken away, she could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/blessings-be-upon-this-house-said-granny-but-in-a-voice-that/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“What’s to be afraid of?’ she managed. ‘Us,’ said Granny Weatherwax, smugly. The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/what-s-to-be-afraid-of-she-managed-us-said-granny-weatherwax-smugly/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Fred, Fred, Fred, I'm sick of hearing about him!' snapped Jess's mum. 'He rang the other day, and straight away you were off out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-limb/fred-fred-fred-i-m-sick-of-hearing-about-him-snapped-jess-s-mum-he/) [Sue Limb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-limb/) > [I saved a man's life once," said Granny. "Special medicine, twice a day. Boiled water with a bit of berry juice in it. Told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-saved-a-man-s-life-once-said-granny-special-medicine-twice-a-day/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) Browse all 24 Said Granny quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There was a Young Person of Smyrna, whose grandmother threatened to burn her; But she seized on the cat, and said, \"Granny, burn that! 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