--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He was in a beastly hole. But decency…" description: "\"“He was in a beastly hole. But decency demanded that he shouldn't act in panic. He had a mechanical, normal panic that made him divest himself of money..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91b/ford-madox-ford-3409_gentlemen_he-was-in-a-beastly-hole-but-decency-dem_2703914.jpg" --- # He was in a beastly hole. But decency demanded that he… ![“He was in a beastly hole. But decency demanded that he shouldn't act in panic. He had a mechanical, normal panic that made him divest himself of money. Gentlemen don't earn money. Gentlemen, as a matter of fact, don't do anything. They exist. Perfuming the air like Madonna lilies. Money comes into…” quote by Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91b/ford-madox-ford-3409_gentlemen_he-was-in-a-beastly-hole-but-decency-dem_2703914.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91b/ford-madox-ford-3409_gentlemen_he-was-in-a-beastly-hole-but-decency-dem_2703914.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91b/ford-madox-ford-3409_gentlemen_he-was-in-a-beastly-hole-but-decency-dem_2703914.jpg) > ““He was in a beastly hole. But decency demanded that he shouldn't act in panic. He had a mechanical, normal panic that made him divest himself of money. Gentlemen don't earn money. Gentlemen, as a matter of fact, don't do anything. They exist. Perfuming the air like Madonna lilies. Money comes into them as air through petals and foliage. Thus the world is made better and brighter. And, of course, thus political life can be kept clean!... So you can't make money.”” [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Moral restraint and detachment from material gain are idealized as a path to purity, yet paradoxically impossible. **In simple terms:** Gentlemen should not chase money. Key Takeaway Question the value of wealth. Themes ethics materialism philosophy Mood reflective critical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal finance - political ethics - spiritual practice Key Concepts economics existentialism Questions to Reflect On - Can one truly live without desire? - What does “gentlemen” mean today? A Different Perspective Idealism may ignore practical needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Earn Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earn-money/) [Gentlemen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentlemen/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Panic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/panic/) [Political life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-life/) [Tietjens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tietjens/) ## Related quotes > [Being male is a matter of birth, being a man is a matter of age, but being a gentlemen is a matter of choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-male-is-a-matter-of-birth-being-a-man-is-a-matter-of-age-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“What did you do on Armistice Night? My beloved is mine and I am his!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/what-did-you-do-on-armistice-night-my-beloved-is-mine-and-i-am-his/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [“The handful of Germans who had reached the trench had been sacrificed for the stupid sort of fun called. Strategy, probably. Stupid! . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/the-handful-of-germans-who-had-reached-the-trench-had-been-sacrificed/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [“He was presumably a lover. They did things like commanding battalions. And worse!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/he-was-presumably-a-lover-they-did-things-like-commanding-battalions/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [“Well, then, he ought to write her a letter. He ought to say: 'This is to tell you that I propose to live with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/well-then-he-ought-to-write-her-a-letter-he-ought-to-say-this-is-to/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [“Old Campion had once said he believed - he positively believed, with shudders - that Christopher desired to live in the spirit of Christ.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/old-campion-had-once-said-he-believed-he-positively-believed-with/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [“The room where they were dancing was very dark… It was queer to be in his arms… She had known better dancers… He had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/the-room-where-they-were-dancing-was-very-dark-it-was-queer-to-be-in/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [“He was grotesque, really. But joy radiated from his homespuns when you walked beside him. It welled out; it enveloped you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/he-was-grotesque-really-but-joy-radiated-from-his-homespuns-when-you/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [“He was a successful general because he knew men. He knew that all men will go to hell over three things: alcohol, money .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/he-was-a-successful-general-because-he-knew-men-he-knew-that-all-men/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [“The exact eye: exact observation: it was a man's work. The only work for a man. Why then were artists soft: effeminate: not men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/the-exact-eye-exact-observation-it-was-a-man-s-work-the-only-work-for/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [If you play well, then you make yourself a great name and the money comes on its own. You earn money for what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franck-ribery/if-you-play-well-then-you-make-yourself-a-great-name-and-the-money/) [Franck Ribery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franck-ribery/) > [Money comes to those who act intelligently, and God to those who hunger for his grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shri-radhe-maa/money-comes-to-those-who-act-intelligently-and-god-to-those-who/) [Shri Radhe Maa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shri-radhe-maa/) > [Can't lie money comes money goes so you need to blow it like a runny nose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabolous/can-t-lie-money-comes-money-goes-so-you-need-to-blow-it-like-a-runny/) Fabolous > [Money comes and goes. I'm thankful I have money. I'm trying to save up more. I would like more money. But it's not happiness.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dat-phan/money-comes-and-goes-i-m-thankful-i-have-money-i-m-trying-to-save-up/) [Dat Phan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dat-phan/) > [Money comes to life as it is spent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/money-comes-to-life-as-it-is-spent/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) ## More by Ford Madox Ford > [New York is large, glamorous, easy-going, kindly and incurious, but above all it is a crucible - because it is large enough to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/new-york-is-large-glamorous-easy-going-kindly-and-incurious-but-above/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [“You can't kill a minuet de la coeur. You may shut up the music book... but surely the minuet-- the minuet itself is dancing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/you-can-t-kill-a-minuet-de-la-coeur-you-may-shut-up-the-music-book/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [“You see in such a world as this, an idealist -or perhaps it's only a sentimentalist-must be stoned to death. He makes the others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/you-see-in-such-a-world-as-this-an-idealist-or-perhaps-it-s-only-a/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [“A gentleman in those days consulted his heirs about tree planting. Should you plant a group of copper beeches against a group of white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/a-gentleman-in-those-days-consulted-his-heirs-about-tree-planting/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [“How was it possible that the most honourable man she knew should be so overwhelmed by foul and baseless rumours? It made you suspect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/how-was-it-possible-that-the-most-honourable-man-she-knew-should-be/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [It is not merely that people must die and people must suffer, if not here, then there. But what is dreadful is that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/it-is-not-merely-that-people-must-die-and-people-must-suffer-if-not/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [“But upon my word, I don't know how we put in our time. How does one put in one's time? How is it possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/but-upon-my-word-i-don-t-know-how-we-put-in-our-time-how-does-one-put/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [In every man there are two minds that work side by side, the one checking the other; thus emotion stands against reason, intellect corrects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/in-every-man-there-are-two-minds-that-work-side-by-side-the-one/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [“No, by God, it is false! It wasn't a minuet that we stepped; it was a prison - a prison full of screaming hysterics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/no-by-god-it-is-false-it-wasn-t-a-minuet-that-we-stepped-it-was-a/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [Damn it all, it's the first duty of a soldier - it's the first duty of all Englishmen - to be able to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/damn-it-all-it-s-the-first-duty-of-a-soldier-it-s-the-first-duty-of/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [“Yes, society must go on; it must breed, like rabbits. That is what we are here for. But then, I don't like society—much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/yes-society-must-go-on-it-must-breed-like-rabbits-that-is-what-we-are/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [“The signal for the train's departure was a very bright red; that is about as passionate a statement as I can get into that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/the-signal-for-the-train-s-departure-was-a-very-bright-red-that-is/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [The world is full of places to which I want to return](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/the-world-is-full-of-places-to-which-i-want-to-return/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [...she had always known under her mind and now she confessed it: her agony had been, half of it, because one day he would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/she-had-always-known-under-her-mind-and-now-she-confessed-it-her/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [“I like the slow, smooth roll of the great big trains—and they are the best trains in the world! I like being drawn through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/i-like-the-slow-smooth-roll-of-the-great-big-trains-and-they-are-the/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) [Explore all 124 Ford Madox Ford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) ## More Gentlemen quotes > [“I assume 'elegant gentlemen,' such as you, learn such useful skills very early in life." "Actually, no." Straight-faced, Vane reached for her pins. "Us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/i-assume-elegant-gentlemen-such-as-you-learn-such-useful-skills-very/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“A gentleman in those days consulted his heirs about tree planting. Should you plant a group of copper beeches against a group of white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/a-gentleman-in-those-days-consulted-his-heirs-about-tree-planting/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [How sad it is that these great gentlemen should believe what anyone tells them and do not choose to judge for themselves! But it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/how-sad-it-is-that-these-great-gentlemen-should-believe-what-anyone/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [“Never in England were there so many gentlemen and so little gentleness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-sansom/never-in-england-were-there-so-many-gentlemen-and-so-little-gentleness/) [C.J. Sansom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-sansom/) > [“If you have feelings for someone, let them know. It doesn’t matter if they can be in your life or not. Maybe, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/if-you-have-feelings-for-someone-let-them-know-it-doesn-t-matter-if/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Books, gentlemen, are a species of men, and introduced to them you circulate in the "very best society" that this world can furnish, without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/books-gentlemen-are-a-species-of-men-and-introduced-to-them-you/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Gentlemen prefer blondes, but take what they can get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-herold/gentlemen-prefer-blondes-but-take-what-they-can-get/) [Don Herold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-herold/) > [The Perfect Gentleman~~~\| ¢ Gives Her One of His T-Shirts to Sleep In, ¢ Give Her One of His Hobbies; To Wear so everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/the-perfect-gentleman-gives-her-one-of-his-t-shirts-to-sleep-in-give/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“And now gentlemen, all for one, one for all - that is our motto, is it not?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-dumas/and-now-gentlemen-all-for-one-one-for-all-that-is-our-motto-is-it-not/) [Alexandre Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-dumas/) > [“Ladies and gentlemen, let us hear the demand of life and adhere to it. It would do us good”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/ladies-and-gentlemen-let-us-hear-the-demand-of-life-and-adhere-to-it/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Smile, but not for long, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Patriarchy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelly-kaplan/smile-but-not-for-long-ladies-and-gentlemen-of-the-patriarchy/) Nelly Kaplan > [“Women, after all, gentlemen,' said the enthusiastic Mr. Snodgrass, 'are the great props and comforts of our existance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/women-after-all-gentlemen-said-the-enthusiastic-mr-snodgrass-are-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Being male is a matter of birth, being a man is a matter of age, but being a gentlemen is a matter of choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-male-is-a-matter-of-birth-being-a-man-is-a-matter-of-age-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gentlemen and maidens in this general vicinity, how doth it go?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-killings/gentlemen-and-maidens-in-this-general-vicinity-how-doth-it-go/) Ron Killings > [The only B word a female should be called is BEAUTIFUL.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-b-word-a-female-should-be-called-is-beautiful/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 286 Gentlemen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentlemen/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He was in a beastly hole. But decency demanded that he shouldn't act in panic. He had a mechanical, normal panic that made him divest himself of money. Gentlemen don't earn money. Gentlemen, as a matter of fact, don't do anything. They exist. Perfuming the air like Madonna lilies. Money comes into them as air through petals and foliage. Thus the world is made better and brighter. And, of course, thus political life can be kept clean!... 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