--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He was awfully good at being…" description: "\"“He was awfully good at being aristocratic. Alexia, on the other hand, was only good at being autocratic. Not quite the same thing.”\" — Gail Carriger" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23c/gail-carriger-1051_aristocrat_he-was-awfully-good-at-being-aristocrati_1799010.jpg" --- # He was awfully good at being aristocratic. Alexia, on the… ![“He was awfully good at being aristocratic. Alexia, on the other hand, was only good at being autocratic. Not quite the same thing.” quote by Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23c/gail-carriger-1051_aristocrat_he-was-awfully-good-at-being-aristocrati_1799010.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23c/gail-carriger-1051_aristocrat_he-was-awfully-good-at-being-aristocrati_1799010.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23c/gail-carriger-1051_aristocrat_he-was-awfully-good-at-being-aristocrati_1799010.jpg) > ““He was awfully good at being aristocratic. Alexia, on the other hand, was only good at being autocratic. Not quite the same thing.”” [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage contrasts aristocratic charm with autocratic rigidity, suggesting they are distinct styles of leadership. **In simple terms:** Aristocratic charm differs from autocratic control. Key Takeaway Recognize different leadership styles. Themes leadership style contrast Mood analytical thoughtful Type literary observational When to use this quote - business management - team building - political leadership - personal relationships Key Concepts social hierarchy personality traits Questions to Reflect On - Which style suits your context? - Can charisma replace authority? A Different Perspective Autocratic style can be alienating despite competence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alexia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alexia/) [Aristocrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocrat/) [Aristocratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocratic/) [Aristocratic Alexia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocratic-alexia-2014508/) [Aristocrats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocrats/) [Autocratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autocratic/) [Autocratic Quite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autocratic-quite-2014510/) [Good Aristocratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-aristocratic-2014509/) ## Related quotes > [“Mrs. Loontwill’s face, that of a pretty woman who had aged without realizing it, screwed itself up into a grimace Alexia supposed was meant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/mrs-loontwill-s-face-that-of-a-pretty-woman-who-had-aged-without/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [“Alexia had, in part, compensated for a lack of soul through the liberal application of manners. This was rather like donning an outfit consisting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/alexia-had-in-part-compensated-for-a-lack-of-soul-through-the-liberal/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [“How did that saying go? Alexia wondered. Ah, yes, “Brash as an American.” Well, they had won their independence somehow, and it was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/how-did-that-saying-go-alexia-wondered-ah-yes-brash-as-an-american/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [Someone was trying to kill Lady Alexia Maccon. It was most inconvenient, as she was in a dreadful hurry. Given her previous familiarity with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/someone-was-trying-to-kill-lady-alexia-maccon-it-was-most/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [Why Alexia that is quite beautiful. It does ot reflect your customary taste at all approved Miss Hisselpenny with glee. Trust Ivy to like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/why-alexia-that-is-quite-beautiful-it-does-ot-reflect-your-customary/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [She boasted the general battle-ax demeanor of an especially strict governess. This was the kind of woman who took her tea black, smoked cigars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/she-boasted-the-general-battle-ax-demeanor-of-an-especially-strict/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [Alexia blinked stupidly at the Beta from around the earl’s upper arm. Her heart was doing crazy things, and she still could not locate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/alexia-blinked-stupidly-at-the-beta-from-around-the-earl-s-upper-arm/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [It was a constant source of amazement to Alexia that the only thing she had ever done in her entire life that pleased her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/it-was-a-constant-source-of-amazement-to-alexia-that-the-only-thing/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [“Alexia was not a particularly musical person, and her husband, a noted opera singer in his human days, had once described her bath time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/alexia-was-not-a-particularly-musical-person-and-her-husband-a-noted/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [Alexia abhorred hypocrisy, especially when munitions were involved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/alexia-abhorred-hypocrisy-especially-when-munitions-were-involved/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [“How ghastly for her,” said Alexia, driven beyond endurance into comment. “People actually thinking, with their brains, and right next door. Oh, the travesty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/how-ghastly-for-her-said-alexia-driven-beyond-endurance-into-comment/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [Ah, Ivy, thought Alexia happily, spreading a verbal fog wherever she goes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/ah-ivy-thought-alexia-happily-spreading-a-verbal-fog-wherever-she-goes/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [“Alexia decided, then and there, that Lord Conall Maccon clearly had only two modes of operation: annoyed and aroused. She wondered which one she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/alexia-decided-then-and-there-that-lord-conall-maccon-clearly-had/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [“Alexia seemed to recall hearing one matron complain that the Italians were very passionate in their support of balls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/alexia-seemed-to-recall-hearing-one-matron-complain-that-the-italians/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [“We realy must work on our communitcation. Perhaps if you were not so constantly intrested in other forms of intimacy, I might actually have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/we-realy-must-work-on-our-communitcation-perhaps-if-you-were-not-so/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) ## More by Gail Carriger > [“There was a pleasantness to the air and a spirit about the town that did not come from its color, but from some inner,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/there-was-a-pleasantness-to-the-air-and-a-spirit-about-the-town-that/) [gail carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [I do not giggle without purpose. Lady Linette says you should never misapply a giggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/i-do-not-giggle-without-purpose-lady-linette-says-you-should-never/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [My Hallway" remarked Lord Akeldama,"Has never seen such lively action. And That, my sugarplums, is saying something!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/my-hallway-remarked-lord-akeldama-has-never-seen-such-lively-action/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [“Ball?" said one of the Pistons with interest. "We like balls." Dimity gave them her best, most haughty look. "Yes, but are you certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/ball-said-one-of-the-pistons-with-interest-we-like-balls-dimity-gave/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [“Goodness gracious me,' exclaimed Alexia, 'what are you wearing? It looks like the unfortunate progeny of an illicit union between a pair of binoculars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/goodness-gracious-me-exclaimed-alexia-what-are-you-wearing-it-looks/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [“Ivy waved the wet handkerchief, as much as to say, words cannot possibly articulate my profound distress. Then, because Ivy never settled for meaningful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/ivy-waved-the-wet-handkerchief-as-much-as-to-say-words-cannot/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [Such poopitations of the heart as you would not believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/such-poopitations-of-the-heart-as-you-would-not-believe/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [Lady Maccon cogitated. She would like to encourage this new spirit of social-mindedness. If Felicity needed anything in her life, it was a cause.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/lady-maccon-cogitated-she-would-like-to-encourage-this-new-spirit-of/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [Why did you want to go and distract me like that? I was quite in my element and everything.' Conall laughed. 'Someone has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/why-did-you-want-to-go-and-distract-me-like-that-i-was-quite-in-my/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [Steampunk is...the love child of Hot Topic and a BBC costume drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/steampunk-is-the-love-child-of-hot-topic-and-a-bbc-costume-drama/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [“She wondered if the immortal's avoidance of life's ugliness was a matter of survival or bigotry. Lord Akeldama did so love to know all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/she-wondered-if-the-immortal-s-avoidance-of-life-s-ugliness-was-a/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [“Sophronia had no idea why Felix was so intent upon her. She had not yet received lessons in seduction, or she might have understood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/sophronia-had-no-idea-why-felix-was-so-intent-upon-her-she-had-not/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [Lord Maccon believed that if his trousers were on his legs, and something else was on his torso, he was dressed. The less done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/lord-maccon-believed-that-if-his-trousers-were-on-his-legs-and/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [But we were talking about me and my problems." Sophronia looked Monique up and down gravely. "I don't think we're going to solve those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/but-we-were-talking-about-me-and-my-problems-sophronia-looked-monique/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [“Nice prong," said Sophronia after a moment. Felix grinned and waggled his eyebrows lasciviously. "Thank you for saying so." Sophronia was instantly suspicious. "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/nice-prong-said-sophronia-after-a-moment-felix-grinned-and-waggled/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) [Explore all 289 Gail Carriger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) ## More Alexia quotes > [“Mrs. Loontwill’s face, that of a pretty woman who had aged without realizing it, screwed itself up into a grimace Alexia supposed was meant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/mrs-loontwill-s-face-that-of-a-pretty-woman-who-had-aged-without/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [“Alexia seemed to recall hearing one matron complain that the Italians were very passionate in their support of balls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/alexia-seemed-to-recall-hearing-one-matron-complain-that-the-italians/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [“Alexia decided, then and there, that Lord Conall Maccon clearly had only two modes of operation: annoyed and aroused. She wondered which one she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/alexia-decided-then-and-there-that-lord-conall-maccon-clearly-had/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [Ah, Ivy, thought Alexia happily, spreading a verbal fog wherever she goes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/ah-ivy-thought-alexia-happily-spreading-a-verbal-fog-wherever-she-goes/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [“How ghastly for her,” said Alexia, driven beyond endurance into comment. “People actually thinking, with their brains, and right next door. Oh, the travesty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/how-ghastly-for-her-said-alexia-driven-beyond-endurance-into-comment/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [Alexia abhorred hypocrisy, especially when munitions were involved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/alexia-abhorred-hypocrisy-especially-when-munitions-were-involved/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [Means everything to me < 3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angel-eyes/means-everything-to-me-3/) [Angel\_eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angel-eyes/) > [“Alexia was not a particularly musical person, and her husband, a noted opera singer in his human days, had once described her bath time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/alexia-was-not-a-particularly-musical-person-and-her-husband-a-noted/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [It was a constant source of amazement to Alexia that the only thing she had ever done in her entire life that pleased her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/it-was-a-constant-source-of-amazement-to-alexia-that-the-only-thing/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [Alexia blinked stupidly at the Beta from around the earl’s upper arm. Her heart was doing crazy things, and she still could not locate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/alexia-blinked-stupidly-at-the-beta-from-around-the-earl-s-upper-arm/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [She boasted the general battle-ax demeanor of an especially strict governess. This was the kind of woman who took her tea black, smoked cigars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/she-boasted-the-general-battle-ax-demeanor-of-an-especially-strict/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [My friend alexia that I never and I mean never talk to cuz I'm in trouble messsaged me on here today tha she misses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/my-friend-alexia-that-i-never-and-i-mean-never-talk-to-cuz-i-m-in/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience/) > [Why Alexia that is quite beautiful. It does ot reflect your customary taste at all approved Miss Hisselpenny with glee. Trust Ivy to like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/why-alexia-that-is-quite-beautiful-it-does-ot-reflect-your-customary/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [Someone was trying to kill Lady Alexia Maccon. It was most inconvenient, as she was in a dreadful hurry. Given her previous familiarity with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/someone-was-trying-to-kill-lady-alexia-maccon-it-was-most/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [“How did that saying go? Alexia wondered. Ah, yes, “Brash as an American.” Well, they had won their independence somehow, and it was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/how-did-that-saying-go-alexia-wondered-ah-yes-brash-as-an-american/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) [Browse all 21 Alexia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alexia/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He was awfully good at being aristocratic. Alexia, on the other hand, was only good at being autocratic. 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