--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The finest manners in the world are…" description: "\"The finest manners in the world are awkwardness and fatuity when contrasted with a finer intelligence. They appear but as the fashions of past days,--m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/144/henry-david-thoreau-20_awkwardness_the-finest-manners-in-the-world-are-awkw_185865.jpg" --- # The finest manners in the world are awkwardness and… ![“The finest manners in the world are awkwardness and fatuity when contrasted with a finer intelligence. They appear but as the fashions of past days,--mere courtliness, knee-buckles and small- clothes, out of date.” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/144/henry-david-thoreau-20_awkwardness_the-finest-manners-in-the-world-are-awkw_185865.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/144/henry-david-thoreau-20_awkwardness_the-finest-manners-in-the-world-are-awkw_185865.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/144/henry-david-thoreau-20_awkwardness_the-finest-manners-in-the-world-are-awkw_185865.jpg) > “The finest manners in the world are awkwardness and fatuity when contrasted with a finer intelligence. They appear but as the fashions of past days,--mere courtliness, knee-buckles and small- clothes, out of date.” [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True refinement is not about superficial manners but deeper intelligence, which makes old customs seem ridiculous. **In simple terms:** Intelligence makes old etiquette look silly. Key Takeaway Value substance over superficiality. Themes culture intelligence authenticity Mood reflective philosophical Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - social gatherings - professional settings - personal interactions Key Concepts depth critical thinking social norms Questions to Reflect On - Why do we cling to outdated customs? - How can deeper intelligence reshape social behavior? A Different Perspective People may cling to tradition despite its emptiness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Awkwardness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awkwardness/) [Clothes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clothes/) [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Manners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manners/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [What is politeness in the home but the outcome of affection and self-respect, and the suppression of all those natural instincts of self-seeking that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humphry-davy/what-is-politeness-in-the-home-but-the-outcome-of-affection-and-self/) [Humphry Davy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humphry-davy/) > [Step by step, you make your way forward. That’s why practices such as daily writing exercises or keeping a daily blog can be so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/step-by-step-you-make-your-way-forward-that-s-why-practices-such-as/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [My fear of flying starts as soon as I buckle myself in and then the guy up front mumbles a few unintelligible words then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-miller/my-fear-of-flying-starts-as-soon-as-i-buckle-myself-in-and-then-the/) [Dennis Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-miller/) > [This band is metal in that we have a lot of metal in our instruments, and there's quite a lot of metal on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-way/this-band-is-metal-in-that-we-have-a-lot-of-metal-in-our-instruments/) [Mikey Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-way/) > [In Paris, when certain people see you ready to set your foot in the stirrup, some pull your coat-tails, others loosen the buckle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/in-paris-when-certain-people-see-you-ready-to-set-your-foot-in-the/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [We cherish the chance to say thank you in person to Cpl. Frank Buckles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-buckles/we-cherish-the-chance-to-say-thank-you-in-person-to-cpl-frank-buckles/) [Frank Buckles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-buckles/) > [Most poets' revisions are disastrous. They buckle and dent what was originally forged at a red-hot heat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-longley/most-poets-revisions-are-disastrous-they-buckle-and-dent-what-was/) [Michael Longley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-longley/) > [In a way, if we want to make the postseason, we feel like we have to win out. We have got some good games…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cartier-martin/in-a-way-if-we-want-to-make-the-postseason-we-feel-like-we-have-to/) Cartier Martin > [I can see the character in a photograph, in the way a guy stands or holds his hands, the way he buckles his belt.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/i-can-see-the-character-in-a-photograph-in-the-way-a-guy-stands-or/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) > [I keep mementos from everything I've done. I've got my cab driver's license from 'Happiness.' I've got a pair of glasses and a belt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-harris/i-keep-mementos-from-everything-i-ve-done-i-ve-got-my-cab-driver-s/) [Jared Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-harris/) > [By the grace of God alone, I was able to still focus, when it was time for me to do my job, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginuwine/by-the-grace-of-god-alone-i-was-able-to-still-focus-when-it-was-time/) [Ginuwine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginuwine/) > [Mr. Buckles has a vivid recollection of historic times, and one way for me to honor the service of those who wear the uniform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-buckles/mr-buckles-has-a-vivid-recollection-of-historic-times-and-one-way-for/) [Frank Buckles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-buckles/) > [I love to accent movement. The eye goes to where the white is - you know, the glove. And the feet, if you're dancing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/i-love-to-accent-movement-the-eye-goes-to-where-the-white-is-you-know/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [When the landscape buckles and jerks around, when a dust column of debris rises from the collapse of a block of buildings on bodies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/when-the-landscape-buckles-and-jerks-around-when-a-dust-column-of/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [You better...buckle uh down and then tighten up to stop this passing game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-simms/you-better-buckle-uh-down-and-then-tighten-up-to-stop-this-passing/) [Phil Simms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-simms/) ## More by Henry David Thoreau > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Men say they know many things; But lo! they have taken wings, — The arts and sciences, And a thousand appliances; The wind that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-say-they-know-many-things-but-lo-they-have-taken-wings-the-arts/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“This spending of the best part of one's life earning money in order to enjoy a questionable liberty during the least valuable part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/this-spending-of-the-best-part-of-one-s-life-earning-money-in-order/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [A traveler who looks at things with an impartial eye may see what the oldest inhabitant has not observed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-traveler-who-looks-at-things-with-an-impartial-eye-may-see-what-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [In proportion as our inward life fails, we go more constantly and desperately to the post office. You may depend on it, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-proportion-as-our-inward-life-fails-we-go-more-constantly-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-had-three-chairs-in-my-house-one-for-solitude-two-for-friendship/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The still youthful energies of the globe have only to be directed in their proper channel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-still-youthful-energies-of-the-globe-have-only-to-be-directed-in/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Concord's little arch does not span all our fate, nor is what transpires under it law for the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/concord-s-little-arch-does-not-span-all-our-fate-nor-is-what/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The lumberers rarely trouble themselves to put out their fires, such is the dampness of the primitive forest; and this is one cause, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-lumberers-rarely-trouble-themselves-to-put-out-their-fires-such/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“When he has obtained those things which are necessary to life, there is another alternative than to obtain the superfluities; and that is, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/when-he-has-obtained-those-things-which-are-necessary-to-life-there/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Wealth is measured by the level of experience in all aspects of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/wealth-is-measured-by-the-level-of-experience-in-all-aspects-of-life/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Explore all 3,376 Henry David Thoreau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More Awkwardness quotes > [Well, my intention is to make work about being uncomfortable. About being in a world that isn't always the world you want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-nakadate/well-my-intention-is-to-make-work-about-being-uncomfortable-about/) [Laurel Nakadate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-nakadate/) > [It's awkward doing it with anybody, but it's like Twister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pattinson/it-s-awkward-doing-it-with-anybody-but-it-s-like-twister/) [Robert Pattinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pattinson/) > [To combat social awkwardness, I would just act like I couldn't be bothered - that kind of aloof persona or aloof demeanor. It's so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/to-combat-social-awkwardness-i-would-just-act-like-i-couldn-t-be/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [“Awkwardness, thy name is vampire.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-neill/awkwardness-thy-name-is-vampire/) [Chloe Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-neill/) > [“What can one do with one's hands when the camera is interested in other things?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/what-can-one-do-with-one-s-hands-when-the-camera-is-interested-in/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [I work from awkwardness. By that I mean I don't like to arrange things. If I stand in front of something, instead of arranging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-arbus/i-work-from-awkwardness-by-that-i-mean-i-don-t-like-to-arrange-things/) [Diane Arbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-arbus/) > [I never wish to offend, but I am so foolishly shy, that I often seem negligent, when I am only kept back by my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/i-never-wish-to-offend-but-i-am-so-foolishly-shy-that-i-often-seem/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [God may forgive sins, he said, but awkwardness has no forgiveness in heaven or earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/god-may-forgive-sins-he-said-but-awkwardness-has-no-forgiveness-in/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I can't flirt, so I'll just seduce you with my awkwardness: xDDD](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel/i-can-t-flirt-so-i-ll-just-seduce-you-with-my-awkwardness-xddd/) [Rachel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel/) > [They meet in the girls' bathroom. The last time they were forced to meet in a place like this, they took separate, isolated stalls.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/they-meet-in-the-girls-bathroom-the-last-time-they-were-forced-to/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [My position in life has always been to be that person in the room who can make the conversation and break down any awkwardness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-narstie/my-position-in-life-has-always-been-to-be-that-person-in-the-room-who/) [Big Narstie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-narstie/) > [“Perhaps anything that he did would have pleased Lucy, but his awkwardness went straight to her heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/perhaps-anything-that-he-did-would-have-pleased-lucy-but-his/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [“Grace and chocolate cake can cover a world of awkwardness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-jo-baker/grace-and-chocolate-cake-can-cover-a-world-of-awkwardness/) [Lisa-Jo Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-jo-baker/) > [There's an attraction to emotional clusters or hypocrisies or awkwardness. A desire to expose something or point at something that's already poking out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-chang/there-s-an-attraction-to-emotional-clusters-or-hypocrisies-or/) [Victoria Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-chang/) > [To have properly studied the liberal sciences gives a polish to our manners, and removes all awkwardness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/to-have-properly-studied-the-liberal-sciences-gives-a-polish-to-our/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) [Browse all 278 Awkwardness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awkwardness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The finest manners in the world are awkwardness and fatuity when contrasted with a finer intelligence. 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