--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: End the affair briskly, and without…" description: "\"“End the affair briskly, and without allowing the slightest room for doubt,' Griselda continued. 'Tell the gentleman that while you are grateful for th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbc/eloisa-james-1659_affair_end-the-affair-briskly-and-without-allow_2351377.jpg" --- # End the affair briskly, and without allowing the slightest… ![“End the affair briskly, and without allowing the slightest room for doubt,' Griselda continued. 'Tell the gentleman that while you are grateful for the lovely time that you spent in his company, you have seen the error of your ways and wish to lead a celibate existence. You can add some flummery…” quote by Eloisa James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbc/eloisa-james-1659_affair_end-the-affair-briskly-and-without-allow_2351377.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbc/eloisa-james-1659_affair_end-the-affair-briskly-and-without-allow_2351377.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbc/eloisa-james-1659_affair_end-the-affair-briskly-and-without-allow_2351377.jpg) > ““End the affair briskly, and without allowing the slightest room for doubt,' Griselda continued. 'Tell the gentleman that while you are grateful for the lovely time that you spent in his company, you have seen the error of your ways and wish to lead a celibate existence. You can add some flummery about his having given you pleasure you never experienced before, if you wish.' Imogen nodded, wishing she had Josie's little book to take notes in. 'On occasion, a hitherto rational man might act in a thoroughly distracted fashion when you inform him of your wish to end the relationship. I generally inform them that while I am not betraying poor Willoughby (he /is/ dead, after all), I have decided, upon reflection, that I am betraying myself. They never have any adequate rebuttal, and you can part on the best of terms.”” [Eloisa James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eloisa-james/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Politely ending a relationship by expressing gratitude, acknowledging past errors, and asserting personal boundaries, while offering a flattering explanation. **In simple terms:** End relationships kindly, with gratitude and clear boundaries. Key Takeaway End relationships with honesty and kindness. Themes communication boundaries self‑respect Mood empathetic reflective Type literary advice When to use this quote - breakups - friendship transitions - personal development Key Concepts relationship dynamics personal growth assertiveness Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance honesty and kindness? - When is it appropriate to give a flattering excuse? A Different Perspective May be perceived as insincere if not genuine. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affair/) [Betraying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/betraying/) [Betraying Adequate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/betraying-adequate-5725736/) [End Affair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-affair-433066/) [End relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-relationship/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Widowhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/widowhood/) ## Related quotes > [The End of the Affair is almost like a play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-jordan/the-end-of-the-affair-is-almost-like-a-play/) [Neil Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-jordan/) > [An election marks the end of the affair; it puts paid to the seduction of the many by the few. Pretty words, fulsome promises.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/an-election-marks-the-end-of-the-affair-it-puts-paid-to-the-seduction/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [The End of the Affair is a good movie because it about things, things that really matter. Love, sex, death. Have you ever seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-rea/the-end-of-the-affair-is-a-good-movie-because-it-about-things-things/) [Stephen Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rea/) > [When the moon, after covering herself with darkness as in sorrow, at last throws off the garments of her widowhood, she does not at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustus-william-hare/when-the-moon-after-covering-herself-with-darkness-as-in-sorrow-at/) [Augustus William Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustus-william-hare/) > [“Those that are in the state of widowhood must resist the temptations of their youth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-b-brewer/those-that-are-in-the-state-of-widowhood-must-resist-the-temptations/) [Nancy B. Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-b-brewer/) > [One step at a time, over the years, as I sought to plumb the mystery of suffering (which cannot be plumbed), I began to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/one-step-at-a-time-over-the-years-as-i-sought-to-plumb-the-mystery-of/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [“In the first year of my grief, there were times when I felt like hiding my personal story of loss and other times when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/in-the-first-year-of-my-grief-there-were-times-when-i-felt-like/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“You never hear widows voice the sentiment, but I could stave off companionship indefinitely. Sex, not so much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-fabiaschi/you-never-hear-widows-voice-the-sentiment-but-i-could-stave-off/) [Abby Fabiaschi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-fabiaschi/) > [“It's like Romeo & Juliet,' I say. 'You can't separate them. Otherwise, there would be no Shakespeare.' Silence. I decide to be more straightforward.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariane-pearl/it-s-like-romeo-juliet-i-say-you-can-t-separate-them-otherwise-there/) [Mariane Pearl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariane-pearl/) > [“You will say things with a merry tongue; you are not one for graceless words and no one will take offence. I will cause…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noella-menon/you-will-say-things-with-a-merry-tongue-you-are-not-one-for-graceless/) [Noella Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noella-menon/) > [the final lesson of learning to be independent - widowhood ... is the hardest lesson of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/the-final-lesson-of-learning-to-be-independent-widowhood-is-the/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [“husbands and would rather wait for widowhood than endure a”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-nelson/husbands-and-would-rather-wait-for-widowhood-than-endure-a/) [Rhonda Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-nelson/) > [The unmarried woman seldom escapes a widowhood of the spirit. There is sure to be some one, parent, brother, sister, friend, more comfortable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-mary-yonge/the-unmarried-woman-seldom-escapes-a-widowhood-of-the-spirit-there-is/) [Charlotte Mary Yonge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-mary-yonge/) > [“I think first of the children. What the hell am I supposed to tell them? Then I think about money, the house, all those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-celebi/i-think-first-of-the-children-what-the-hell-am-i-supposed-to-tell/) [Shannon Celebi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-celebi/) > [Widows are divided into two classes - the bereaved and relieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-robinson/widows-are-divided-into-two-classes-the-bereaved-and-relieved/) [Victor Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-robinson/) ## More by Eloisa James > [“It was as if the world was presenting her with everything she wanted ... in all the wrong ways.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eloisa-james/it-was-as-if-the-world-was-presenting-her-with-everything-she-wanted/) [Eloisa James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eloisa-james/) > [“My eyes would have told you everything you wanted to know in the parlor ... You would never have spouted that drivel about how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eloisa-james/my-eyes-would-have-told-you-everything-you-wanted-to-know-in-the/) [Eloisa James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eloisa-james/) > [“Will Peter be joining us for tea, do you think?' 'I doubt it. Peter rarely returns home before late in the evening.' 'Oh.' Quill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eloisa-james/will-peter-be-joining-us-for-tea-do-you-think-i-doubt-it-peter-rarely/) [Eloisa James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eloisa-james/) > [Oh, I have felt lust. And I've indulged lust. 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Simply as a man, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eloisa-james/i-would-like-just-once-for-a-woman-to-see-me-as-other-than-a-person/) [Eloisa James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eloisa-james/) > [“Didn't it say it all that Griffin couldn't make it to his own bloody front door without a cane? For all his was mahogany…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eloisa-james/didn-t-it-say-it-all-that-griffin-couldn-t-make-it-to-his-own-bloody/) [Eloisa James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eloisa-james/) > [“You're confusing desire and love,' she said, watching him. 'They are not the same.' 'I do love you. I feel near to murder at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eloisa-james/you-re-confusing-desire-and-love-she-said-watching-him-they-are-not/) [Eloisa James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eloisa-james/) > [In case there is any question in your mind," he said, cupping her face with his hands. "What I want, what I most desire,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eloisa-james/in-case-there-is-any-question-in-your-mind-he-said-cupping-her-face/) [Eloisa James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eloisa-james/) > [There's nothing I like more than meeting velvet clad peers while wrapped in a towel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eloisa-james/there-s-nothing-i-like-more-than-meeting-velvet-clad-peers-while/) [Eloisa James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eloisa-james/) > [I have come to the conclusion that silence and time are the most precious commodities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eloisa-james/i-have-come-to-the-conclusion-that-silence-and-time-are-the-most/) [Eloisa James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eloisa-james/) > [Life without a phone is riskier, lonelier, more vivid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eloisa-james/life-without-a-phone-is-riskier-lonelier-more-vivid/) [Eloisa James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eloisa-james/) > [“At some point Ewan had taken off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves. His forearms were bulging with muscle, and his shoulders appeared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eloisa-james/at-some-point-ewan-had-taken-off-his-jacket-and-rolled-up-his-sleeves/) [Eloisa James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eloisa-james/) > [“The last person Jemma expected to welcome into her bedchamber that night was her husband. Though of course she would have to invite him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eloisa-james/the-last-person-jemma-expected-to-welcome-into-her-bedchamber-that/) [Eloisa James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eloisa-james/) [Explore all 216 Eloisa James quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eloisa-james/) ## More Affair quotes > [Histories never conclude; they just pause their prose. Their stories are, if they are truthful, untidy affairs, resistant to windings-up and sortings-out. They beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-schama/histories-never-conclude-they-just-pause-their-prose-their-stories/) [Simon Schama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-schama/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [Our guiding principle was that design is neither an intellectual nor a material affair, but simply an integral part of the stuff of life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gropius/our-guiding-principle-was-that-design-is-neither-an-intellectual-nor/) [Walter Gropius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gropius/) > [I wonder if it's possible to have a love affair that lasts forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/i-wonder-if-it-s-possible-to-have-a-love-affair-that-lasts-forever/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [For a young man to start his career with a love affair with an older woman was quite de rigueur ... 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It is very seldom that it weathers the experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/love-is-mainly-an-affair-of-short-spasms-if-these-spasms-disappoint/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) > [The Fundamental Principle that governs - or ought to govern -human affairs if we wish to avoid misunderstandings, conflicts, or pointless utopias, is negotiation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/the-fundamental-principle-that-governs-or-ought-to-govern-human/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [My hope does not rest in the affairs of this world. It rests in Christ who is coming again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/my-hope-does-not-rest-in-the-affairs-of-this-world-it-rests-in-christ/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [In 1953, the United States played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's popular prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh. 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"That is a terrible word, coming from you." "Yup." "And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jensen/i-ripped-the-sketch-from-the-wall-liar-edward-looked-more-ravaged/) [Melissa Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jensen/) > [For some people, a one-night stand doesn't make any difference in a seven-year love affair. 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'Tell the gentleman that while you are grateful for the lovely time that you spent in his company, you have seen the error of your ways and wish to lead a celibate existence. You can add some flummery about his having given you pleasure you never experienced before, if you wish.' Imogen nodded, wishing she had Josie's little book to take notes in. 'On occasion, a hitherto rational man might act in a thoroughly distracted fashion when you inform him of your wish to end the relationship. I generally inform them that while I am not betraying poor Willoughby (he /is/ dead, after all), I have decided, upon reflection, that I am betraying myself. 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