--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The major was very interested in the…" description: "\"“The major was very interested in the mountains, and we in turn were very interested in the major, a spare spruce man of nearly sixty who wore light sh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b48/h-e-bates-38999_appearance_the-major-was-very-interested-in-the-mou_1312693.jpg" --- # The major was very interested in the mountains, and we in… ![“The major was very interested in the mountains, and we in turn were very interested in the major, a spare spruce man of nearly sixty who wore light shantung summer suits and was very studious of his appearance generally, and very specially of his smooth grey hair. He also had three sets of false…” quote by H.E. Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b48/h-e-bates-38999_appearance_the-major-was-very-interested-in-the-mou_1312693.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b48/h-e-bates-38999_appearance_the-major-was-very-interested-in-the-mou_1312693.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b48/h-e-bates-38999_appearance_the-major-was-very-interested-in-the-mou_1312693.jpg) > ““The major was very interested in the mountains, and we in turn were very interested in the major, a spare spruce man of nearly sixty who wore light shantung summer suits and was very studious of his appearance generally, and very specially of his smooth grey hair. He also had three sets of false teeth, of which he was very proud: one for mornings, one for evenings, and one for afternoons.”” [H.E. Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-e-bates/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator humorously describes a military officer’s eccentricities and the mutual curiosity between him and the locals. **In simple terms:** A quirky officer and locals are fascinated with each other’s quirks. Key Takeaway Notice how small details reveal character. Themes humor character social observation Mood light‑hearted observational Type anecdotal satirical When to use this quote - military life - rural community - first impressions - social interaction Key Concepts eccentricity appearance identity Questions to Reflect On - What does the officer’s grooming say about his self‑image? - How do the locals’ reactions shape the scene? A Different Perspective The description may overemphasize trivial traits, missing deeper motivations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Grey hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grey-hair/) ## Related quotes > [From my undergraduate days, I've always been interested in the major philosophical questions that don't seem to have an answer that everyone agrees on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-doctorow/from-my-undergraduate-days-i-ve-always-been-interested-in-the-major/) [E. L. Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-doctorow/) > [In the beginning of college I wanted to be an English major, but then I became interested in international relations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-mcdonell/in-the-beginning-of-college-i-wanted-to-be-an-english-major-but-then/) [Nick McDonell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-mcdonell/) > [“Whenever they are condemning weaves or breast implants, some people speak so passionately that their false teeth almost fall out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/whenever-they-are-condemning-weaves-or-breast-implants-some-people/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“The darker the skin, the whiter seem yellow teeth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/the-darker-the-skin-the-whiter-seem-yellow-teeth/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“I would like to believe in the myth that we grow wiser with age. In a sense my disbelief is wisdom. Those of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-white/i-would-like-to-believe-in-the-myth-that-we-grow-wiser-with-age-in-a/) [Patrick White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-white/) > [“False Teeth, Are you afraid of losing your tooth? We have a solution for you to be able to keep your smile and confidence.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dentures/false-teeth-are-you-afraid-of-losing-your-tooth-we-have-a-solution/) Dentures ## More by H.E. Bates > [“This fusion of wood and water is an entrancing thing. Without the wood the stream would be nothing: a mere thin watercourse winding through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-e-bates/this-fusion-of-wood-and-water-is-an-entrancing-thing-without-the-wood/) [H.E. Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-e-bates/) > [“If I shut my eyes it returns: the evocation of a whole wood, a whole world of wood-darkness and flowers and birds and late…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-e-bates/if-i-shut-my-eyes-it-returns-the-evocation-of-a-whole-wood-a-whole/) [H.E. Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-e-bates/) > [“It is one of the oddest and sometimes one of the most charming characteristics of English weather that at times one season borrows complete…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-e-bates/it-is-one-of-the-oddest-and-sometimes-one-of-the-most-charming/) [H.E. Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-e-bates/) > [“Every morning Mrs Eglantine sat at the round bamboo bar of the New Pacific Hotel and drank her breakfast. This consisted of two quick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-e-bates/every-morning-mrs-eglantine-sat-at-the-round-bamboo-bar-of-the-new/) [H.E. Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-e-bates/) > [“And here, it seems to me, is much of the secret of the charm of woods in England. A wood should never be vast.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-e-bates/and-here-it-seems-to-me-is-much-of-the-secret-of-the-charm-of-woods/) [H.E. Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-e-bates/) > [“But I drew the line, one evening, at Jerry O'Keefe's, the fish-shop where people crammed in late for hot plates of peas and chips…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-e-bates/but-i-drew-the-line-one-evening-at-jerry-o-keefe-s-the-fish-shop/) [H.E. Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-e-bates/) > [“A wood at night, or even more at twilight, can be a strange place. Fear begins to come more quickly in a wood, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-e-bates/a-wood-at-night-or-even-more-at-twilight-can-be-a-strange-place-fear/) [H.E. Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-e-bates/) > [“The cookery books will give you a thousand finicky devices, mushrooms in this, mushrooms in that, but there is only one way—to fry them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-e-bates/the-cookery-books-will-give-you-a-thousand-finicky-devices-mushrooms/) [H.E. Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-e-bates/) > [“Blowsily, frowsily, comfortably, toothlessly, Mrs Candleton was sleeping away the afternoon in her hair-curlers and her pinnafore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-e-bates/blowsily-frowsily-comfortably-toothlessly-mrs-candleton-was-sleeping/) [H.E. Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-e-bates/) > [“There are those who talk of the evil spirit of the woods. But for me there is only one evil spirit of woods: the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-e-bates/there-are-those-who-talk-of-the-evil-spirit-of-the-woods-but-for-me/) [H.E. Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-e-bates/) [Explore all 11 H.E. Bates quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-e-bates/) ## More Appearance quotes > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [The essence of worldliness is exclusion of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jacobsen/the-essence-of-worldliness-is-exclusion-of-god/) [Henry Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jacobsen/) > [We must, however, note that what are usually called the high religions made their appearance within about twenty-five hundred years - most of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-scott-latourette/we-must-however-note-that-what-are-usually-called-the-high-religions/) [Kenneth Scott Latourette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-scott-latourette/) > [First impressions are often the truest, as we find (not infrequently) to our cost, when we have been wheedled out of them by plausible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/first-impressions-are-often-the-truest-as-we-find-not-infrequently-to/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [The turning points of lives are not the great moments. The real crises are often concealed in occurrences so trivial in appearance that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-turning-points-of-lives-are-not-the-great-moments-the-real-crises/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [You can have a nice body, dress with the latest fashion. But if you don't have self-confidence sweetheart, forget about looking sexy, you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/you-can-have-a-nice-body-dress-with-the-latest-fashion-but-if-you-don/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [I cannot be convinced that great artists are moralists. Art is first appearances, then meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/i-cannot-be-convinced-that-great-artists-are-moralists-art-is-first/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [So may the outward shows be least themselves; The world is still deceived with ornament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-may-the-outward-shows-be-least-themselves-the-world-is-still/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We are one of many appearances of the thing called Life; we are not its perfect image, for it has no perfect image except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-eiseley/we-are-one-of-many-appearances-of-the-thing-called-life-we-are-not/) [Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-eiseley/) > [I'm OK with my appearance. I have made my peace with it after a long and frankly exhausting battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-perkins/i-m-ok-with-my-appearance-i-have-made-my-peace-with-it-after-a-long/) [Sue Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-perkins/) > [There is no society or conversation to be kept up in the world without good-nature, or something which must bear its appearance and supply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/there-is-no-society-or-conversation-to-be-kept-up-in-the-world/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Appearance records are pretty special. Mine means a lot to me, not only because I love stats, but because it shows that I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james/appearance-records-are-pretty-special-mine-means-a-lot-to-me-not-only/) [David James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james/) > [Every man would fall in love with their voice, their lovely appearance, but no man would ever get past that. They'd never really know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/every-man-would-fall-in-love-with-their-voice-their-lovely-appearance/) [Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/) > [I already know what things look like - I don't want description. People believe in appearances, and I don't believe in appearances at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duane-michals/i-already-know-what-things-look-like-i-don-t-want-description-people/) [Duane Michals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duane-michals/) Browse all 2,446 Appearance quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The major was very interested in the mountains, and we in turn were very interested in the major, a spare spruce man of nearly sixty who wore light shantung summer suits and was very studious of his appearance generally, and very specially of his smooth grey hair. He also had three sets of false teeth, of which he was very proud: one for mornings, one for evenings, and one for afternoons.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "H.E. Bates" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-e-bates/the-major-was-very-interested-in-the-mountains-and-we-in-turn-were/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Appearance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-e-bates/the-major-was-very-interested-in-the-mountains-and-we-in-turn-were/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b48/h-e-bates-38999_appearance_the-major-was-very-interested-in-the-mou_1312693.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b48/h-e-bates-38999_appearance_the-major-was-very-interested-in-the-mou_1312693.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b48/h-e-bates-38999_appearance_the-major-was-very-interested-in-the-mou_1312693.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The major was very interested in the mountains, and we in turn were very interested in the major, a spare…” — H.E. Bates", "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": "H.E. Bates", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-e-bates/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The major was very interested in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-e-bates/the-major-was-very-interested-in-the-mountains-and-we-in-turn-were/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-e-bates/the-major-was-very-interested-in-the-mountains-and-we-in-turn-were/#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 } } ] } ```