--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Margaret could not help her looks; but…" description: "\"“Margaret could not help her looks; but the short curled upper lip, the round, massive up-turned chin, the manner of carrying her head, her movements, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54f/elizabeth-gaskell-894_quote_margaret-could-not-help-her-looks-but-th_332320.jpg" --- # Margaret could not help her looks; but the short curled… ![“Margaret could not help her looks; but the short curled upper lip, the round, massive up-turned chin, the manner of carrying her head, her movements, full of a soft feminine defiance, always gave strangers the impression of haughtiness. […] She sat facing him and facing the light; her full beauty…” quote by Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54f/elizabeth-gaskell-894_quote_margaret-could-not-help-her-looks-but-th_332320.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54f/elizabeth-gaskell-894_quote_margaret-could-not-help-her-looks-but-th_332320.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54f/elizabeth-gaskell-894_quote_margaret-could-not-help-her-looks-but-th_332320.jpg) > ““Margaret could not help her looks; but the short curled upper lip, the round, massive up-turned chin, the manner of carrying her head, her movements, full of a soft feminine defiance, always gave strangers the impression of haughtiness. \[…\] She sat facing him and facing the light; her full beauty met his eye; her round white flexile throat rising out of the full, yet lithe figure; her lips, moving so slightly as she spoke, not breaking the cold serene look of her face with any variation from the one lovely haughty curve; her eyes, with their soft gloom, meeting his with quiet maiden freedom. He almost said to himself that he did not like her, before their conversation ended; he tried so to compensate himself for the mortified feeling, that while he looked upon her with an admiration he could not repress, she looked at him with proud indifference, taking him, he thought, for what, in his irritation, he told himself he was - a great rough fellow, with not a grace or a refinement about him. Her quiet coldness of demeanour he interpreted into contemptuousness, and resented it in his heart to the pitch of almost inclining him to get up and go away, and have nothing more to do with these Hales, and their superciliousness.”” [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A woman's proud, aloof demeanor can be misread as contempt, revealing how personal insecurities shape perception of others. **In simple terms:** Pride can be mistaken for contempt. Key Takeaway Recognize and question your own biases. Themes perception pride misunderstanding gender dynamics Mood reflective melancholic Type literary character study When to use this quote - first encounters - social gatherings - romantic tension - professional meetings Key Concepts social psychology self‑projection class tension Questions to Reflect On - How might your own insecurities color your view of others? - What cues could indicate genuine indifference versus projected contempt? A Different Perspective Assumptions may overlook deeper motivations or context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Haughtiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/haughtiness/) ## Related quotes > [He almost said to himself that he did not like her, before their conversation ended; he tried so hard to compensate himself for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/he-almost-said-to-himself-that-he-did-not-like-her-before-their/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [“Mr. Darcy had at first scarcely allowed her to be pretty; he had looked at her without admiration at the ball; and when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/mr-darcy-had-at-first-scarcely-allowed-her-to-be-pretty-he-had-looked/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“Occupied in observing Mr. Bingley’s attentions to her sister, Elizabeth was far from suspecting that she was herself becoming an object of some interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/occupied-in-observing-mr-bingley-s-attentions-to-her-sister-elizabeth/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [At a certain point he was very popular, from THE RAVEN. He was never fully appreciated, never made the money, and you know he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-astin/at-a-certain-point-he-was-very-popular-from-the-raven-he-was-never/) [John Astin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-astin/) > [“Those who remarked in the countenance of this young hero a dissolute audacity mingled with extreme haughtiness ... could not yet deny to his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-walter-scott/those-who-remarked-in-the-countenance-of-this-young-hero-a-dissolute/) [Sir Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-walter-scott/) > [Tolerance is love sick with the sickness of haughtiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/tolerance-is-love-sick-with-the-sickness-of-haughtiness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you are an ardent reader, seek not brilliant and erudite texts; otherwise the demon of haughtiness will strike your heart. But like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ephrem-the-syrian/if-you-are-an-ardent-reader-seek-not-brilliant-and-erudite-texts/) [Ephrem the Syrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ephrem-the-syrian/) > [Some people are all quality; you would think they are made up of nothing but title and genealogy. The stamp of dignity defaces in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-l-estrange/some-people-are-all-quality-you-would-think-they-are-made-up-of/) [Roger L'Estrange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-l-estrange/) > [The proud are ever most provoked by pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/the-proud-are-ever-most-provoked-by-pride/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [It is the privilege of any human work which is well done to invest the doer with a certain haughtiness. He can well afford…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/it-is-the-privilege-of-any-human-work-which-is-well-done-to-invest/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [O world, how apt the poor are to be proud!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-world-how-apt-the-poor-are-to-be-proud/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Pride is innate in beauty, and haughtiness is the companion of the fair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/pride-is-innate-in-beauty-and-haughtiness-is-the-companion-of-the-fair/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [If one avoids haughtiness to the utmost extent and is exceedingly humble, he is termed a saint, and this is the standard of saintliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/if-one-avoids-haughtiness-to-the-utmost-extent-and-is-exceedingly/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [“Cherubs fan our foolish fires, filling hearts with mad desires. They prick our pride and haughtiness with quick, angelic naughtiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-biccard/cherubs-fan-our-foolish-fires-filling-hearts-with-mad-desires-they/) [John Biccard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-biccard/) > [With copious evidence ranging from Plato's haughtiness to Beethoven's tirades, we may conclude that the most brilliant people of history tend to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/with-copious-evidence-ranging-from-plato-s-haughtiness-to-beethoven-s/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) ## More by Elizabeth Gaskell > [“Osborne and Roger knowing that the wife of the former was a Frenchwoman, and, conscious of each other's knowledge, felt doubly awkward; while Molly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/osborne-and-roger-knowing-that-the-wife-of-the-former-was-a/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [Well, He had known what love was-a sharp pang, a fierce experience, in the midst of whose flames he was struggling! but, through that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/well-he-had-known-what-love-was-a-sharp-pang-a-fierce-experience-in/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [In all disappointments sympathy is a great balm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/in-all-disappointments-sympathy-is-a-great-balm/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [But Margaret went less abroad, among machinery and men; saw less of power in its public effect, and, as it happened, she was thrown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/but-margaret-went-less-abroad-among-machinery-and-men-saw-less-of/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [“And besides, in the matter of friendship, I have observed that the disappointment here arises chiefly, not from liking our friends too well, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/and-besides-in-the-matter-of-friendship-i-have-observed-that-the/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [What other people may think of the rightness or wrongness is nothing in comparison to my own deep knowledge, my innate conviction that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/what-other-people-may-think-of-the-rightness-or-wrongness-is-nothing/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [“The first question sobbed out by his choking voice, oppressed with emotion, was-- "Where is she?" They led him to the room where his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/the-first-question-sobbed-out-by-his-choking-voice-oppressed-with/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [Wearily she went to bed, wearily she arose in four or five hours' time. But with the morning came hope, and a brighter view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/wearily-she-went-to-bed-wearily-she-arose-in-four-or-five-hours-time/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [No one loves me, - no one cares for me, but you, mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/no-one-loves-me-no-one-cares-for-me-but-you-mother/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [I won't say she was silly, but I think one of us was silly, and it wasn't me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/i-won-t-say-she-was-silly-but-i-think-one-of-us-was-silly-and-it-wasn/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [Mr. Thorton love Margaret! Why, Margraret would never think of him, I'm sure! Such a thing has never entered her head." "Entering her heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/mr-thorton-love-margaret-why-margraret-would-never-think-of-him-i-m/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [“He never looked at her; and yet, the careful avoidance of his eyes betokened that in some way he knew exactly where, if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/he-never-looked-at-her-and-yet-the-careful-avoidance-of-his-eyes/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [“Ay! but mother's words are scarce, and weigh heavy. Father's liker me, and we talk a deal o' rubble; but mother's words are liker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/ay-but-mother-s-words-are-scarce-and-weigh-heavy-father-s-liker-me/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [Margaret liked this smile; it was the first thing she had admired in this new friend of her father's; and the opposition of character,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/margaret-liked-this-smile-it-was-the-first-thing-she-had-admired-in/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [Don’t be afraid,” she said, coldly, “ as far as love may go she may be worthy of you. It must have taken a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/don-t-be-afraid-she-said-coldly-as-far-as-love-may-go-she-may-be/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) [Explore all 330 Elizabeth Gaskell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) ## More Haughtiness quotes > [With copious evidence ranging from Plato's haughtiness to Beethoven's tirades, we may conclude that the most brilliant people of history tend to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/with-copious-evidence-ranging-from-plato-s-haughtiness-to-beethoven-s/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [“Cherubs fan our foolish fires, filling hearts with mad desires. They prick our pride and haughtiness with quick, angelic naughtiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-biccard/cherubs-fan-our-foolish-fires-filling-hearts-with-mad-desires-they/) [John Biccard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-biccard/) > [If one avoids haughtiness to the utmost extent and is exceedingly humble, he is termed a saint, and this is the standard of saintliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/if-one-avoids-haughtiness-to-the-utmost-extent-and-is-exceedingly/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [Pride is innate in beauty, and haughtiness is the companion of the fair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/pride-is-innate-in-beauty-and-haughtiness-is-the-companion-of-the-fair/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [O world, how apt the poor are to be proud!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-world-how-apt-the-poor-are-to-be-proud/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [It is the privilege of any human work which is well done to invest the doer with a certain haughtiness. He can well afford…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/it-is-the-privilege-of-any-human-work-which-is-well-done-to-invest/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The proud are ever most provoked by pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/the-proud-are-ever-most-provoked-by-pride/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [Some people are all quality; you would think they are made up of nothing but title and genealogy. The stamp of dignity defaces in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-l-estrange/some-people-are-all-quality-you-would-think-they-are-made-up-of/) [Roger L'Estrange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-l-estrange/) > [If you are an ardent reader, seek not brilliant and erudite texts; otherwise the demon of haughtiness will strike your heart. But like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ephrem-the-syrian/if-you-are-an-ardent-reader-seek-not-brilliant-and-erudite-texts/) [Ephrem the Syrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ephrem-the-syrian/) > [Tolerance is love sick with the sickness of haughtiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/tolerance-is-love-sick-with-the-sickness-of-haughtiness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Those who remarked in the countenance of this young hero a dissolute audacity mingled with extreme haughtiness ... could not yet deny to his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-walter-scott/those-who-remarked-in-the-countenance-of-this-young-hero-a-dissolute/) [Sir Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-walter-scott/) > [“I am a mage,” she replied with every ounce of haughtiness three years in a competitive doctoral program had taught her. “We bend the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-aaron/i-am-a-mage-she-replied-with-every-ounce-of-haughtiness-three-years/) [Rachel Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-aaron/) > [Christianity, with its doctrine of humility, of forgiveness, of love, is incompatible with the state, with its haughtiness, its violence, its punishment, its wars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/christianity-with-its-doctrine-of-humility-of-forgiveness-of-love-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Cyphel knew exactly how he felt about her as well — it was there in her expression whenever they spoke that beguiling combination of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/cyphel-knew-exactly-how-he-felt-about-her-as-well-it-was-there-in-her/) [Alastair Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-reynolds/) > [Any pride or haughtiness, is displeasing to us, merely because it shocks our own pride, and leads us by sympathy into comparison, which causes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/any-pride-or-haughtiness-is-displeasing-to-us-merely-because-it/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) [Browse all 33 Haughtiness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/haughtiness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Margaret could not help her looks; but the short curled upper lip, the round, massive up-turned chin, the manner of carrying her head, her movements, full of a soft feminine defiance, always gave strangers the impression of haughtiness. 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