--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The aristocrat, when he wants to, has…" description: "\"The aristocrat, when he wants to, has very good manners. The Scottish upper classes, in particular, have that shell-shocked look that probably comes fr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/jilly-cooper-13799_banging_the-aristocrat-when-he-wants-to-has-very_1390701.jpg" --- # The aristocrat, when he wants to, has very good manners… ![“The aristocrat, when he wants to, has very good manners. The Scottish upper classes, in particular, have that shell-shocked look that probably comes from banging their heads on low beams leaping to their feet whenever a woman comes into the room. Aristocrats are also deeply male chauvinist, and…” quote by Jilly Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/jilly-cooper-13799_banging_the-aristocrat-when-he-wants-to-has-very_1390701.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/jilly-cooper-13799_banging_the-aristocrat-when-he-wants-to-has-very_1390701.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/jilly-cooper-13799_banging_the-aristocrat-when-he-wants-to-has-very_1390701.jpg) > “The aristocrat, when he wants to, has very good manners. The Scottish upper classes, in particular, have that shell-shocked look that probably comes from banging their heads on low beams leaping to their feet whenever a woman comes into the room. Aristocrats are also deeply male chauvinist, and ... on the whole they tend to be reactionary.” [Jilly Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jilly-cooper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Aristocratic behavior often masks insecurity, leading to pretentious manners and reactionary attitudes. **In simple terms:** Upper-class manners hide deeper flaws. Key Takeaway Beware superficial politeness. Themes class gender social hierarchy Mood critical reflective Type analytical observational When to use this quote - Formal events - networking - family gatherings - political debates Key Concepts Sociology psychology culture Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize genuine respect? - When does politeness become a shield? A Different Perspective Not all aristocrats fit this stereotype; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Good man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-man/) [Good manners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-manners/) [Male chauvinist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/male-chauvinist/) [Males](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/males/) [Manners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manners/) [Reactionaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reactionaries/) [Scottish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scottish/) [Upper class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/upper-class/) ## Related quotes > [“The Aristocrat The Devil is a gentleman, and asks you down to stay At his little place at What'sitsname (it isn't far away). They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/the-aristocrat-the-devil-is-a-gentleman-and-asks-you-down-to-stay-at/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [“He was awfully good at being aristocratic. Alexia, on the other hand, was only good at being autocratic. Not quite the same thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/he-was-awfully-good-at-being-aristocratic-alexia-on-the-other-hand/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [ “\[...\] Just because a person has a title doesn't make him an aristocrat. Some people are great aristocrats who have no other title than… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/just-because-a-person-has-a-title-doesn-t-make-him-an-aristocrat-some/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [Why do women have smaller feet than men? So they can stand closer to the kitchen sink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-do-women-have-smaller-feet-than-men-so-they-can-stand-closer-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My wife tells me I am a male chauvinist pig and I have to sort of admit it. In my office and in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/my-wife-tells-me-i-am-a-male-chauvinist-pig-and-i-have-to-sort-of/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [Those members of the male species who honk at women walking along the road or don't know how to take no for an answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-michael-hardy/those-members-of-the-male-species-who-honk-at-women-walking-along-the/) [D Michael Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-michael-hardy/) > [Men are scum, right ladies? Too bad we own everything!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-allen/men-are-scum-right-ladies-too-bad-we-own-everything/) [Tim Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-allen/) > [We're not sexists, we're chauvinists - we're male chauvinist pigs, and we're happy to be because we think that's what men were destined to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-re-not-sexists-we-re-chauvinists-we-re-male-chauvinist-pigs-and-we/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Q: How many chauvinist does it take to change a light bulb? A: None, the chick can clean in the dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/q-how-many-chauvinist-does-it-take-to-change-a-light-bulb-a-none-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What's worse than a Male Chauvinist Pig? A woman that won't do what she's told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-s-worse-than-a-male-chauvinist-pig-a-woman-that-won-t-do-what/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Whats a male chauvinist pig? A guy who hates every bone in a woman's body, except his own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whats-a-male-chauvinist-pig-a-guy-who-hates-every-bone-in-a-woman-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are some die-hard male chauvinist pigs and there are some Neanderthal women who are threatened by equality - but the great majority, polls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/there-are-some-die-hard-male-chauvinist-pigs-and-there-are-some/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [“Lora followed his eyes to the subject of their conversation. He was such a masculine man, tall and strong and sure of himself, cocky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-robards/lora-followed-his-eyes-to-the-subject-of-their-conversation-he-was/) [Karen Robards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-robards/) > [It is the modern feminists who are the real male chauvinists, lusting for reproductive freedom (sexual irresponsibility) like playboys and demanding empowerment, that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/it-is-the-modern-feminists-who-are-the-real-male-chauvinists-lusting/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [I want to make it clear I'm not a chauvinist, but I believe a woman's place is in the house, ... The White House,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mckinney/i-want-to-make-it-clear-i-m-not-a-chauvinist-but-i-believe-a-woman-s/) Michael McKinney ## More by Jilly Cooper > [I love the long grass coming up to meet the willows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jilly-cooper/i-love-the-long-grass-coming-up-to-meet-the-willows/) [Jilly Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jilly-cooper/) > [I think we ought to have a kindness year, or a kindness century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jilly-cooper/i-think-we-ought-to-have-a-kindness-year-or-a-kindness-century/) [Jilly Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jilly-cooper/) > [I was so flattered that someone wanted me to write a book, I said I would. It was published in 1969.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jilly-cooper/i-was-so-flattered-that-someone-wanted-me-to-write-a-book-i-said-i/) [Jilly Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jilly-cooper/) > [There is something infinitely dingy about the word workshop. Pray that England doesn't become a nation of workshopkeepers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jilly-cooper/there-is-something-infinitely-dingy-about-the-word-workshop-pray-that/) [Jilly Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jilly-cooper/) > [Although it is the biggest time-waster in office life, you must never underrate the importance of the memo. You will be judged by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jilly-cooper/although-it-is-the-biggest-time-waster-in-office-life-you-must-never/) [Jilly Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jilly-cooper/) > [Go to lots of interviews, at least one a month even when you don't need a job, to keep in training for when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jilly-cooper/go-to-lots-of-interviews-at-least-one-a-month-even-when-you-don-t/) [Jilly Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jilly-cooper/) > [I would really like to spend more time with the family. Every time I go abroad I miss them all dreadfully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jilly-cooper/i-would-really-like-to-spend-more-time-with-the-family-every-time-i/) [Jilly Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jilly-cooper/) > [“The male is a domestic animal which, if treated with firmness, can be trained to do most things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jilly-cooper/the-male-is-a-domestic-animal-which-if-treated-with-firmness-can-be/) [Jilly Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jilly-cooper/) > [Leo, sadly, has Parkinsons, but he used to cook all sorts of dazzling things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jilly-cooper/leo-sadly-has-parkinsons-but-he-used-to-cook-all-sorts-of-dazzling/) [Jilly Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jilly-cooper/) > [The male is a domestic animal which, if treated with firmness and kindness, can be trained to do most things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jilly-cooper/the-male-is-a-domestic-animal-which-if-treated-with-firmness-and/) [Jilly Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jilly-cooper/) > [Youve simply got to go on and on with your family and friends and tell them how much you love them because you never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jilly-cooper/youve-simply-got-to-go-on-and-on-with-your-family-and-friends-and/) [Jilly Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jilly-cooper/) > [I have a theory that the secret of marital happiness is simple: drink in different pubs to your other half.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jilly-cooper/i-have-a-theory-that-the-secret-of-marital-happiness-is-simple-drink/) [Jilly Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jilly-cooper/) > [I'm basically a very happy person and I don't have to be anybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jilly-cooper/i-m-basically-a-very-happy-person-and-i-don-t-have-to-be-anybody-else/) [Jilly Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jilly-cooper/) > [I've got a book coming out soon so I just must get some weight off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jilly-cooper/i-ve-got-a-book-coming-out-soon-so-i-just-must-get-some-weight-off/) [Jilly Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jilly-cooper/) > [The male - I have found - is a domestic animal which, if treated with firmness and kindness, can be trained to do most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jilly-cooper/the-male-i-have-found-is-a-domestic-animal-which-if-treated-with/) [Jilly Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jilly-cooper/) [Explore all 49 Jilly Cooper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jilly-cooper/) ## More Aristocrat quotes > [“You can learn how to be an aristocrat by following a few rules in a very short book. There is nothing to it.” He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-o-neill/you-can-learn-how-to-be-an-aristocrat-by-following-a-few-rules-in-a/) [Heather O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-o-neill/) > [“how inevitable it was that the aristocrat would refuse his final duty—which was to step aside and vanish into history.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/how-inevitable-it-was-that-the-aristocrat-would-refuse-his-final-duty/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [Unlike the majority of the writers of his age, La Rochefoucauld was an aristocrat; and this fact gives a peculiar tone to his work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lytton-strachey/unlike-the-majority-of-the-writers-of-his-age-la-rochefoucauld-was-an/) [Lytton Strachey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lytton-strachey/) > [Every marriage tends to consist of an aristocrat and a peasant. Of a teacher and a learner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/every-marriage-tends-to-consist-of-an-aristocrat-and-a-peasant-of-a/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [Sometimes my biography is interpreted as the upbringing of a French aristocrat. It was very, very different. We were a family of mercantile, immigrant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/sometimes-my-biography-is-interpreted-as-the-upbringing-of-a-french/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“What is the distinguishing mark of an aristocrat?' she asked him suddenly. 'Reverence,' he replied.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/what-is-the-distinguishing-mark-of-an-aristocrat-she-asked-him/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [I always use the same comparison: Ian McKellen isn't a wizard. I'm not a 19-year-old aristocrat from the 19th century. It's all made up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-coughlan/i-always-use-the-same-comparison-ian-mckellen-isn-t-a-wizard-i-m-not/) [Nicola Coughlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-coughlan/) > [I have alternately been called an Aristocrat and a Democrat. I am neither. I am a Christocrat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/i-have-alternately-been-called-an-aristocrat-and-a-democrat-i-am/) [Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/) > [The aristocrat is the democrat ripe, and gone to seed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-aristocrat-is-the-democrat-ripe-and-gone-to-seed/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The breath of an aristocrat is the death rattle of freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-b-chner/the-breath-of-an-aristocrat-is-the-death-rattle-of-freedom/) [Georg Buchner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-b-chner/) > [“An aristocrat? Apart from my deep hatred for birthright and primogeniture, I was aghast at my grooming misfire.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-rogers/an-aristocrat-apart-from-my-deep-hatred-for-birthright-and/) [Tim Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-rogers/) > [ “\[...\] Just because a person has a title doesn't make him an aristocrat. Some people are great aristocrats who have no other title than… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/just-because-a-person-has-a-title-doesn-t-make-him-an-aristocrat-some/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) > [“She was what an aristocrat should be, porcelain and silk, unreachable, gracious, untainted by the dust of all this common death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanith-lee/she-was-what-an-aristocrat-should-be-porcelain-and-silk-unreachable/) [Tanith Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanith-lee/) > [“He bethought him with pride that he had always been called a scholar, and sneered at for his love of solitude and books. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/he-bethought-him-with-pride-that-he-had-always-been-called-a-scholar/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [I am for poetry that is admired by peasant and aristocrat alike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-sionil-jos/i-am-for-poetry-that-is-admired-by-peasant-and-aristocrat-alike/) [F. Sionil Jose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/) Browse all 52 Aristocrat quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The aristocrat, when he wants to, has very good manners. The Scottish upper classes, in particular, have that shell-shocked look that probably comes from banging their heads on low beams leaping to their feet whenever a woman comes into the room. 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