---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The man opposite, divided between anger…"
description: "\"“The man opposite, divided between anger and relief at the stripping away of his defenses, his nerves jangling, was taken utterly aback by the extraord..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/998/elizabeth-goudge-2888_beauty_the-man-opposite-divided-between-anger-a_1217421.jpg"
---

#  The man opposite, divided between anger and relief at the…

![“The man opposite, divided between anger and relief at the stripping away of his defenses, his nerves jangling, was taken utterly aback by the extraordinary beauty of Hilary's eyes without their glasses, by their keen, straight glance, by the enveloping warmth of his utterly happy yet rather…” quote by Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/998/elizabeth-goudge-2888_beauty_the-man-opposite-divided-between-anger-a_1217421.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/998/elizabeth-goudge-2888_beauty_the-man-opposite-divided-between-anger-a_1217421.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/998/elizabeth-goudge-2888_beauty_the-man-opposite-divided-between-anger-a_1217421.jpg)

> ““The man opposite, divided between anger and relief at the stripping away of his defenses, his nerves jangling, was taken utterly aback by the extraordinary beauty of Hilary's eyes without their glasses, by their keen, straight glance, by the enveloping warmth of his utterly happy yet rather deprecating smile. The immense power of his goodwill, together with his personal humility, made a sudden unexpected appeal that got right under Malony's guard before he knew where he was. He wasn't out to do you good, this chap - he didn't think enough of himself for that - he was simply out to jog along beside you for a little, and pass the time of day, knowing you were down on your luck, and thinking a bit of companionship might not come amiss.””

[Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A compassionate person, despite modesty, offers gentle companionship to someone in distress, creating unexpected comfort.

**In simple terms:** Kindness can appear in humble, simple gestures.

Key Takeaway

Offer small, sincere support to those struggling.

Themes

compassion humility companionship empathy

Mood

warm reflective empathetic

Type

literary narrative character study

When to use this quote

- loneliness
- personal crisis
- everyday encounters

Key Concepts

social connection psychological comfort humility

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you show genuine care without overstepping?
- What small act could lift someone’s spirits?

A Different Perspective

Kindness may be misread as pity or intrusion.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Extraordinary beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extraordinary-beauty/) [Time of day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-of-day/)

## Related quotes

> [The satirical direction I have chosen is an indication of my disappointment in man, which is the opposite way of saying that I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-levine/the-satirical-direction-i-have-chosen-is-an-indication-of-my/)

[Jack Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-levine/)

> [“Some women, he thought, had the power to turn a man in the opposite direction from what he wanted. It seemed his fate to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/some-women-he-thought-had-the-power-to-turn-a-man-in-the-opposite/)

[Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/)

> [“Meditation is one of the most serious things; you do it all day, in the office, with the family, when you say to somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/meditation-is-one-of-the-most-serious-things-you-do-it-all-day-in-the/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [“Despite her extraordinary beauty, and so many young men were running after her, Maria remained virgin, never had a lover (But a fiancé for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximillien-de-lafayette/despite-her-extraordinary-beauty-and-so-many-young-men-were-running/)

[Maximillien de Lafayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximillien-de-lafayette/)

> [“Some people call the sunset a creation of extraordinary beauty, and proof of God’s existence. But what benevolent force would bewitch the human spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-hill/some-people-call-the-sunset-a-creation-of-extraordinary-beauty-and/)

[Lawrence Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-hill/)

> [My sisters and I were fortunate to travel through Asia and Europe at very young ages. We confronted extraordinary beauty in Athens and unspeakable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-chapin-carpenter/my-sisters-and-i-were-fortunate-to-travel-through-asia-and-europe-at/)

[Mary Chapin Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-chapin-carpenter/)

> [What I can't understand is why you can't see the extraordinary beauty of the idea that life started from nothing - that is such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/what-i-can-t-understand-is-why-you-can-t-see-the-extraordinary-beauty/)

[Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/)

> [“Because our nation is stupid and Hollywood is coarse, there is no one to tell us of the deep and extraordinary beauty of older…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/because-our-nation-is-stupid-and-hollywood-is-coarse-there-is-no-one/)

[Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/)

> [“Let me begin with a caveat to any and all who find these pages. Do not trust large bodies of water, and do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-hill/let-me-begin-with-a-caveat-to-any-and-all-who-find-these-pages-do-not/)

[Lawrence Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-hill/)

> [Flowers, cold from the dew, And autumn's approaching breath, I pluck for the warm, luxuriant braids, Which haven't faded yet. In their nights, fragrantly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-akhmatova/flowers-cold-from-the-dew-and-autumn-s-approaching-breath-i-pluck-for/)

[Anna Akhmatova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-akhmatova/)

> [“I wonder if all women secretly fantasize, like me, about what it would be like to be an extraordinary beauty and bitchy as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-lansens/i-wonder-if-all-women-secretly-fantasize-like-me-about-what-it-would/)

[Lori Lansens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-lansens/)

> [“Let's think about living some day in a world made of friendship, with hearts beating with duty and feeling, and people and animals and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sait-faik-abas-yan-k/let-s-think-about-living-some-day-in-a-world-made-of-friendship-with/)

[Sait Faik Abasıyanık](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sait-faik-abas-yan-k/)

> [Extraordinary beauty can be a curse to the one who possesses it. one pays a dear price for fame and fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/extraordinary-beauty-can-be-a-curse-to-the-one-who-possesses-it-one/)

[Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/)

> [We are being called into realization with great urgency and extraordinary beauty, and oftentimes not without difficulty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hanson-lasater/we-are-being-called-into-realization-with-great-urgency-and/)

[Judith Hanson Lasater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hanson-lasater/)

> [“Her face deeply moved him. Why, he could at first not say. It gave him the impression of youth--spring flowers, yet age--a sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/her-face-deeply-moved-him-why-he-could-at-first-not-say-it-gave-him/)

[Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/)

## More by Elizabeth Goudge

> [“He strolled to the front door and stood watching, letting the picture of Felicity grave itself so deeply on his mind that when with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/he-strolled-to-the-front-door-and-stood-watching-letting-the-picture/)

[Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/)

> [I have known him nearly all my life, and I am going to marry him, so that there won't ever be a time when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/i-have-known-him-nearly-all-my-life-and-i-am-going-to-marry-him-so/)

[Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/)

> [Because of course she had known she must go. She always did the thing because in obedience lay the integrity that God asked of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/because-of-course-she-had-known-she-must-go-she-always-did-the-thing/)

[Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/)

> [Marriage is a very long process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/marriage-is-a-very-long-process/)

[Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/)

> [Being ill makes you feel what well people call sentimental, but what you feel is nonetheless genuine whatever they call it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/being-ill-makes-you-feel-what-well-people-call-sentimental-but-what/)

[Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/)

> [Nothing living should ever be treated with contempt. Whatever it is that lives, a man, a tree, or a bird, should be touched gently,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/nothing-living-should-ever-be-treated-with-contempt-whatever-it-is/)

[Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/)

> [“These black times go as they come and we do not know how they come or why they go. But we know that God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/these-black-times-go-as-they-come-and-we-do-not-know-how-they-come-or/)

[Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/)

> [“What is the distinguishing mark of an aristocrat?' she asked him suddenly. 'Reverence,' he replied.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/what-is-the-distinguishing-mark-of-an-aristocrat-she-asked-him/)

[Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/)

> [Could you understand the meaning of light if there were no darkness to point the contrast? Day and night, life and death, love and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/could-you-understand-the-meaning-of-light-if-there-were-no-darkness/)

[Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/)

> [A well-trained dog is like religion, it sets the deserving at their ease and is a terror to evildoers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/a-well-trained-dog-is-like-religion-it-sets-the-deserving-at-their/)

[Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/)

> [The sun is still there... even if clouds drift over it. Once you have experienced the reality of sunshine you may weep, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/the-sun-is-still-there-even-if-clouds-drift-over-it-once-you-have/)

[Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/)

> [ \[Salvation\] is a curious process of divine burglary. The first thing to be wrested from one by a God who said 'Thou shalt not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/salvation-is-a-curious-process-of-divine-burglary-the-first-thing-to/)

[Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/)

> [The lovers of life, they are children at heart always in their wonder and delight, but they do not grab.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/the-lovers-of-life-they-are-children-at-heart-always-in-their-wonder/)

[Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/)

> [Our home, our special country, is for all of us the place where we find liberation; a very difficult word ... that tries to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/our-home-our-special-country-is-for-all-of-us-the-place-where-we-find/)

[Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/)

> [“Nothing whatsoever, not even the existence of God to His lovers, can be proved, but that every man, if he is to live at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/nothing-whatsoever-not-even-the-existence-of-god-to-his-lovers-can-be/)

[Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/)

[Explore all 144 Elizabeth Goudge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/)

## More Beauty quotes

> [We do not want nowadays temples of worship and outward rites and ceremonies. What we really want is an Asram. We want a place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/we-do-not-want-nowadays-temples-of-worship-and-outward-rites-and/)

[Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/)

> [How could anybody confuse truth with beauty, I thought as I looked at him. Truth came with sunken eyes, bony or scarred, decayed. Its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/how-could-anybody-confuse-truth-with-beauty-i-thought-as-i-looked-at/)

[Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/)

> [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/)

[John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/)

> [To fathom the power, to witness the beauty, to bathe in the fountain, to swing on the spiral of our divinity, and still be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tool/to-fathom-the-power-to-witness-the-beauty-to-bathe-in-the-fountain-to/)

[Tool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tool/)

> [The term "black metal" has become a lot looser, or can include a larger range of sounds and extra-musical aesthetics, not just Satan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/the-term-black-metal-has-become-a-lot-looser-or-can-include-a-larger/)

[Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/)

> [“We've all met people who are beautiful on the outside, however, when they open their mouths to speak, they have nothing of substance to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/we-ve-all-met-people-who-are-beautiful-on-the-outside-however-when/)

[Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/)

> [There are various orders of beauty, causing men to make fools of themselves in various styles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/there-are-various-orders-of-beauty-causing-men-to-make-fools-of/)

[George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/)

> [To me, the beauty of a quilt or a dress lies within the stitches and the thought of the person who made them. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie/to-me-the-beauty-of-a-quilt-or-a-dress-lies-within-the-stitches-and/)

[Natalie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie/)

> [“do not misunderstand person by beauty You really do not know its real or Mask on dirty thoughts”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-zaki-ansari/do-not-misunderstand-person-by-beauty-you-really-do-not-know-its-real/)

[Mohammed Zaki Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-zaki-ansari/)

> [“I already love in you your beauty, but I am only beginning to love in you that which is eternal and ever precious –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-already-love-in-you-your-beauty-but-i-am-only-beginning-to-love-in/)

[Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/)

> [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/)

[Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/)

> [Call her beautiful a million times and she won't believe you. Call her ugly once, and she will never forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tumblr/call-her-beautiful-a-million-times-and-she-won-t-believe-you-call-her/)

Tumblr

> [Time can but make her beauty over again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/time-can-but-make-her-beauty-over-again/)

[William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/)

> [ The social \[media channel\] isn't about beauty contests and popularity contests. They're a distortion, a caricature of the real thing. It's about trust, connection,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umair-haque/the-social-media-channel-isn-t-about-beauty-contests-and-popularity/)

[Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umair-haque/)

> [“What about you? What do you do?” I needed to ask questions, draw him out. I needed to find out all the information I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-avery-ellison/what-about-you-what-do-you-do-i-needed-to-ask-questions-draw-him-out/)

[Kate Avery Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-avery-ellison/)

[Browse all 24,662 Beauty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The man opposite, divided between anger and relief at the stripping away of his defenses, his nerves jangling, was taken utterly aback by the extraordinary beauty of Hilary's eyes without their glasses, by their keen, straight glance, by the enveloping warmth of his utterly happy yet rather deprecating smile. The immense power of his goodwill, together with his personal humility, made a sudden unexpected appeal that got right under Malony's guard before he knew where he was. He wasn't out to do you good, this chap - he didn't think enough of himself for that - he was simply out to jog along beside you for a little, and pass the time of day, knowing you were down on your luck, and thinking a bit of companionship might not come amiss.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Elizabeth Goudge"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/the-man-opposite-divided-between-anger-and-relief-at-the-stripping/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Beauty"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/the-man-opposite-divided-between-anger-and-relief-at-the-stripping/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/998/elizabeth-goudge-2888_beauty_the-man-opposite-divided-between-anger-a_1217421.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/998/elizabeth-goudge-2888_beauty_the-man-opposite-divided-between-anger-a_1217421.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/998/elizabeth-goudge-2888_beauty_the-man-opposite-divided-between-anger-a_1217421.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The man opposite, divided between anger and relief at the stripping away of his defenses, his nerves…” — Elizabeth Goudge",
                "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": "Elizabeth Goudge",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“The man opposite, divided between anger...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/the-man-opposite-divided-between-anger-and-relief-at-the-stripping/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/the-man-opposite-divided-between-anger-and-relief-at-the-stripping/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
