--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Reverend William Trent, whose mind…" description: "\"“The Reverend William Trent, whose mind was of a serious order, had several times warned his elder sister that too lively a sense of humour frequently ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/georgette-heyer-1080_humor_the-reverend-william-trent-whose-mind-wa_2648670.jpg" --- # The Reverend William Trent, whose mind was of a serious… ![“The Reverend William Trent, whose mind was of a serious order, had several times warned his elder sister that too lively a sense of humour frequently led to laxity of principle. She now perceived how right he was; and wondered, in dismay, whether it was because he invariably made her laugh that…” quote by Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/georgette-heyer-1080_humor_the-reverend-william-trent-whose-mind-wa_2648670.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/georgette-heyer-1080_humor_the-reverend-william-trent-whose-mind-wa_2648670.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/georgette-heyer-1080_humor_the-reverend-william-trent-whose-mind-wa_2648670.jpg) > ““The Reverend William Trent, whose mind was of a serious order, had several times warned his elder sister that too lively a sense of humour frequently led to laxity of principle. She now perceived how right he was; and wondered, in dismay, whether it was because he invariably made her laugh that instead of regarding the Nonesuch with revulsion she was obliged to struggle against the impulse to cast every scruple to the winds, and to give her life into his keeping.”” [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A serious mind warns that excessive humor can erode moral rigor, leading to laxity in principles. **In simple terms:** Humor can weaken strictness. Key Takeaway Balance wit with principle. Themes humor discipline family selfcontrol Mood reflective thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - parent‑child relationships - marriage counseling - personal development - ethical decision making Key Concepts moral philosophy psychology character dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep humor from undermining your values? - When is levity beneficial? A Different Perspective Humor may also foster creativity and resilience, not just laxity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Humour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humour/) [Humour Frequently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humour-frequently-2331156/) [Laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughter/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Reverend William](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reverend-william-2331157/) [Sense of humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-of-humor/) [Sense of humour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-of-humour/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Warned Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warned-elder-2331158/) [William Trent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/william-trent-2331155/) ## Related quotes > [Miss Grantham's sense of humour got the better of her at this point, and, tottering towards a chair, she sank into it, exclaiming in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/miss-grantham-s-sense-of-humour-got-the-better-of-her-at-this-point/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [I have a great sense of humour. I am teasing, taunting and authoritative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suhasini-maniratnam/i-have-a-great-sense-of-humour-i-am-teasing-taunting-and-authoritative/) [Suhasini Maniratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suhasini-maniratnam/) > [I have inherited my father's sense of humour about myself. It's a lot more pleasant to make fun of yourself than when someone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-have-inherited-my-father-s-sense-of-humour-about-myself-it-s-a-lot/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [It is rare to find learned men who are clean, do not stink and have a sense of humour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/it-is-rare-to-find-learned-men-who-are-clean-do-not-stink-and-have-a/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [There are a lot of filmmakers I love whose work doesn't inspire mine at all. For example: Quentin Tarantino. From his films you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chika-anadu/there-are-a-lot-of-filmmakers-i-love-whose-work-doesn-t-inspire-mine/) [Chika Anadu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chika-anadu/) > [It turns out that understanding the British public is not rocket science. The British appreciate honesty and they also have a bonkers, off-the-wall sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-scherzinger/it-turns-out-that-understanding-the-british-public-is-not-rocket/) [Nicole Scherzinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-scherzinger/) > [“She raised her eyebrows, looping her hands around his neck and wriggling provocatively. 'Looks like I've just been promoted to Alpha then, huh?' Lucien…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-young/she-raised-her-eyebrows-looping-her-hands-around-his-neck-and/) [Samantha Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-young/) > [Florey was not an easy personality. His drive and ambition were manifest from the day he arrived ... He could be ruthless and selfish;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-drury/florey-was-not-an-easy-personality-his-drive-and-ambition-were/) [Allen Drury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-drury/) > [When you see 'MHN,' you will see that the film is based on relationships which are serious, but there is a sense of humour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushmita-sen/when-you-see-mhn-you-will-see-that-the-film-is-based-on-relationships/) [Sushmita Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushmita-sen/) > [My wife is way funnier than I am. As much as I don't really feel I share a sense of humour with my family,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/my-wife-is-way-funnier-than-i-am-as-much-as-i-don-t-really-feel-i/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [My final word, before I'm done, Is "Cancer can be rather fun"- Provided one confronts the tumour with a sufficient sense of humour. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-b-s-haldane/my-final-word-before-i-m-done-is-cancer-can-be-rather-fun-provided/) [John B. S. Haldane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-b-s-haldane/) > [I think the French have a romantic cliche that Englishmen have great style, great music, irony and sense of humour. Well, sometimes cliches are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-de-la-baume/i-think-the-french-have-a-romantic-cliche-that-englishmen-have-great/) [Josephine de La Baume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-de-la-baume/) > [His beauty isnt't what makes me love him more with each day that passes by but his sense of humour, his sweetness, his laughter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine/his-beauty-isnt-t-what-makes-me-love-him-more-with-each-day-that/) [Josephine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine/) > [“A reasonable looking guy with a sense of humour to go to parties with: surely that´s not too much to ask, is it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-alexander/a-reasonable-looking-guy-with-a-sense-of-humour-to-go-to-parties-with/) [Nick Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-alexander/) > [ I've often thought about that and the only suitable member to join me on that climb \[to Everest\] was George Lowe: he was strong,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/i-ve-often-thought-about-that-and-the-only-suitable-member-to-join-me/) [Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) ## More by Georgette Heyer > [“Upon her butler’s announcing the arrival of Mr Ravenscar, Lady Mablethorpe, who had been dozing over a novel from the Circulating Library, sat up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/upon-her-butler-s-announcing-the-arrival-of-mr-ravenscar-lady/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“I may have said that I wanted to have an adventure," replied Miss Thane. "But I never said that I wanted to be murdered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/i-may-have-said-that-i-wanted-to-have-an-adventure-replied-miss-thane/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [Will you marry me, vile and abominable girl that you are? Yes, but, mind, it only to save my neck from being wrung!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/will-you-marry-me-vile-and-abominable-girl-that-you-are-yes-but-mind/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“Lady Winwood being denied, the morning caller inquired with some anxiety for Miss Winwood, or, in fact, for any of the young ladies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/lady-winwood-being-denied-the-morning-caller-inquired-with-some/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [I have seen what comes of being patient," Amanda said with a boding look. "And I have no opinion of it." "What does come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/i-have-seen-what-comes-of-being-patient-amanda-said-with-a-boding/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“Goodbye!" "Oh, not goodbye!" he protested. "I mean to know you better, Miss Lanyon of Undershaw!" "To be sure, it does seem a pity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/goodbye-oh-not-goodbye-he-protested-i-mean-to-know-you-better-miss/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“he disclosed that he had been set upon by two Bedlamites, both of whom had jumped out from behind a bush, roaring at him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/he-disclosed-that-he-had-been-set-upon-by-two-bedlamites-both-of-whom/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [Randall laid his hand on Stella's, but only to remove it from his sleeve. "My precious, you really must have some regard for my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/randall-laid-his-hand-on-stella-s-but-only-to-remove-it-from-his/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [She stretched out her hand, saying, “Vernon! My dear, what a delightful surprise!” “What’s surprising about it?” he enquired, lifting his black brows. “Didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/she-stretched-out-her-hand-saying-vernon-my-dear-what-a-delightful/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“Nothing more likely,"said Hannasyde. "I've got to try and rattle him." "It's him that'll do the rattling,"said the Sergeant darkly. "he's the nearest thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/nothing-more-likely-said-hannasyde-i-ve-got-to-try-and-rattle-him-it/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“Yes, darling, that is quite a nice frock, but the hankerchief is not only the wrong shade of grey, but quite damnably tied. Let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/yes-darling-that-is-quite-a-nice-frock-but-the-hankerchief-is-not/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“The Viscount stepped into the room. "Came to see if you was dead," he said. "Laid Pom odds you weren't." Lethbridge passed his hand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/the-viscount-stepped-into-the-room-came-to-see-if-you-was-dead-he/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“If you imagine that I have the smallest desire to receive your hand as a reward for having performed a difficult task to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/if-you-imagine-that-i-have-the-smallest-desire-to-receive-your-hand/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [ \[...\]my memory is reasonably good—unlike yours, dear sir!” “Mine is erratic,” he said imperturbably. “I remember only what interests me. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/my-memory-is-reasonably-good-unlike-yours-dear-sir-mine-is-erratic-he/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [Do you recall Fred Merriville?” She stared at him. “Fred Merriville? Pray, what has he to say to anything?” “The poor fellow has nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/do-you-recall-fred-merriville-she-stared-at-him-fred-merriville-pray/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) [Explore all 296 Georgette Heyer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) ## More Humor quotes > ['Mad TV' is one of my most favorite shows of all time and is a huge part of my obsession with sketch comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/mad-tv-is-one-of-my-most-favorite-shows-of-all-time-and-is-a-huge/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [In my opinion, sexiness comes down to three things: chemistry, sense of humor, and treatment of waitstaff at restaurants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhoda-janzen/in-my-opinion-sexiness-comes-down-to-three-things-chemistry-sense-of/) [Rhoda Janzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhoda-janzen/) > [“...I haven't guessed where your shirt is from yet Bane, but I don't think it'll matter once it's underwater!' Tristan looked at Bane questioningly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-k-munt/i-haven-t-guessed-where-your-shirt-is-from-yet-bane-but-i-don-t-think/) [S.K. Munt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-k-munt/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) [Markus Herz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-herz/) > [“Not wise, perhaps, to be rude to the Pope's favorite son, but my viper tongue still required a fool now and then on which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-quinn/not-wise-perhaps-to-be-rude-to-the-pope-s-favorite-son-but-my-viper/) [Kate Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-quinn/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [If you were to send a werewolf to the moon, would he be a werewolf permanently?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-schaal/if-you-were-to-send-a-werewolf-to-the-moon-would-he-be-a-werewolf/) [Kristen Schaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-schaal/) > [“I only have two words to say More or Less”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timbur/i-only-have-two-words-to-say-more-or-less/) [TimBur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timbur/) > [“ “Do Southerners laugh at different things than Northerners do? Yes, I say--Northerners.” Roy Blount, Jr., Roy Blount’s Book of Southern Humor”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ford/do-southerners-laugh-at-different-things-than-northerners-do-yes-i/) [Deborah Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ford/) > [There's a difference between delivering real funny and just silly funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-rel-howery/there-s-a-difference-between-delivering-real-funny-and-just-silly/) [Lil Rel Howery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-rel-howery/) > [I love being my silly ole self! Lifes a lot better when you have a good sense of humor and you smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-love-being-my-silly-ole-self-lifes-a-lot-better-when-you-have-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/) [Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/) [Browse all 33,155 Humor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The Reverend William Trent, whose mind was of a serious order, had several times warned his elder sister that too lively a sense of humour frequently led to laxity of principle. She now perceived how right he was; and wondered, in dismay, whether it was because he invariably made her laugh that instead of regarding the Nonesuch with revulsion she was obliged to struggle against the impulse to cast every scruple to the winds, and to give her life into his keeping.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Georgette Heyer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/the-reverend-william-trent-whose-mind-was-of-a-serious-order-had/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Humor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/the-reverend-william-trent-whose-mind-was-of-a-serious-order-had/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/georgette-heyer-1080_humor_the-reverend-william-trent-whose-mind-wa_2648670.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/georgette-heyer-1080_humor_the-reverend-william-trent-whose-mind-wa_2648670.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/georgette-heyer-1080_humor_the-reverend-william-trent-whose-mind-wa_2648670.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Reverend William Trent, whose mind was of a serious order, had several times warned his elder sister…” — Georgette Heyer", "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": "Georgette Heyer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The Reverend William Trent, whose mind...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/the-reverend-william-trent-whose-mind-was-of-a-serious-order-had/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/the-reverend-william-trent-whose-mind-was-of-a-serious-order-had/#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 } } ] } ```