--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Desponding Phyllis was endu'd With ev'ry…" description: "\"Desponding Phyllis was endu'd With ev'ry Talent of a Prude, She trembled when a Man drew near; Salute her, and she turn'd her Ear: If o'er against her ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fe/jonathan-swift-433_ears_desponding-phyllis-was-endu-d-with-ev-ry_2454020.jpg" --- # Desponding Phyllis was endu'd With ev'ry Talent of a… ![“Desponding Phyllis was endu'd With ev'ry Talent of a Prude, She trembled when a Man drew near; Salute her, and she turn'd her Ear: If o'er against her you were plac'd She durst not look above your Waist” quote by Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fe/jonathan-swift-433_ears_desponding-phyllis-was-endu-d-with-ev-ry_2454020.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fe/jonathan-swift-433_ears_desponding-phyllis-was-endu-d-with-ev-ry_2454020.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fe/jonathan-swift-433_ears_desponding-phyllis-was-endu-d-with-ev-ry_2454020.jpg) > “Desponding Phyllis was endu'd With ev'ry Talent of a Prude, She trembled when a Man drew near; Salute her, and she turn'd her Ear: If o'er against her you were plac'd She durst not look above your Waist” [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A timid woman, lacking confidence, reacts fearfully when approached by a man, and cannot meet his gaze. **In simple terms:** Shy woman feels fearful and avoids eye contact. Key Takeaway Encourage confidence and respectful interaction. Themes gender social anxiety courtship confidence Mood thoughtful critical Type literary observational When to use this quote - dating - social skills training - confidence workshops - literary analysis Key Concepts social dynamics power communication Questions to Reflect On - How can we support shy individuals in social settings? - What respectful ways can initiate contact? A Different Perspective The poem reflects outdated gender stereotypes and may not apply today. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desponding Phyllis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desponding-phyllis-594652/) [Ears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ears/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Prude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prude/) [Prude Trembled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prude-trembled-594651/) [Prudes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prudes/) [Salute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/salute/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Talent Prude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent-prude-594653/) [Trembled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trembled-594654/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) ## Related quotes > [I have always been kind of a prude. But kissing is harmless to me, and sometimes a kiss can tell if its even worth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-port/i-have-always-been-kind-of-a-prude-but-kissing-is-harmless-to-me-and/) [Whitney Port](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-port/) > [When people say 'I'm not a prude, but ...' what they mean is 'I am a prude, and ...'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/when-people-say-i-m-not-a-prude-but-what-they-mean-is-i-am-a-prude-and/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [I'll be honest: I was a super-late bloomer, and I was kind of a prude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-wentz/i-ll-be-honest-i-was-a-super-late-bloomer-and-i-was-kind-of-a-prude/) [Pete Wentz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-wentz/) > [A prude is a person who thinks that his own rules of propriety are natural laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/a-prude-is-a-person-who-thinks-that-his-own-rules-of-propriety-are/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [I'm certainly not a prude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-cattrall/i-m-certainly-not-a-prude/) [Kim Cattrall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-cattrall/) > [Are you a prude?' He seemed genuinely curious. 'No!' But after a second, I said, 'But may be compared to you, yes! I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/are-you-a-prude-he-seemed-genuinely-curious-no-but-after-a-second-i/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [I don't like swearing on the air. As a matter of fact, I'm not a prude, but... I watch HBO and some of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-lamb/i-don-t-like-swearing-on-the-air-as-a-matter-of-fact-i-m-not-a-prude/) [Brian Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-lamb/) > [I'm actually totally the prude of my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-naegle/i-m-actually-totally-the-prude-of-my-family/) [Sue Naegle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-naegle/) > [I mean, I'll say the filthiest things in the world, but when it comes down to it, I'm kind of a prude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-richter/i-mean-i-ll-say-the-filthiest-things-in-the-world-but-when-it-comes/) [Andy Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-richter/) > [In the United States of America, we are so liberal-minded on so many different aspects, but for some reason there's always going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-wasson/in-the-united-states-of-america-we-are-so-liberal-minded-on-so-many/) [Erin Wasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-wasson/) > [Age brings about everything; but it is not the time, Madam, as we know, to be a prude at twenty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/age-brings-about-everything-but-it-is-not-the-time-madam-as-we-know/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [I would never describe Charlotte as a prude - maybe at the start, but that was in comparison to the other girls. She wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-davis/i-would-never-describe-charlotte-as-a-prude-maybe-at-the-start-but/) [Kristin Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-davis/) > [Holmes, I'm a 24 year old prude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-r-king/holmes-i-m-a-24-year-old-prude/) [Laurie R. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-r-king/) > [I was a superlate bloomer, and I was kind of a prude. I always wanted to be able to keep the number of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-wentz/i-was-a-superlate-bloomer-and-i-was-kind-of-a-prude-i-always-wanted/) [Pete Wentz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-wentz/) > [“You're such a prude, she would say to me, in a tone of voice that was on the whole pleased. She liked being more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/you-re-such-a-prude-she-would-say-to-me-in-a-tone-of-voice-that-was/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) ## More by Jonathan Swift > [Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/time-is-painted-with-a-lock-before-and-bald-behind-signifying-thereby/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [“He said, he knew no reason why those who entertain opinions prejudicial to the public should be obliged to change, or should not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/he-said-he-knew-no-reason-why-those-who-entertain-opinions/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [I with borrow'd silver shine, What you see is none of mine. 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Then, lest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/a-forward-critic-often-dupes-us-with-sham-quotations-peri-hupsos-and/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [May you live every day of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/may-you-live-every-day-of-your-life/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [Ale is meat, drink and cloth; it will make a cat speak and a wise man dumb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/ale-is-meat-drink-and-cloth-it-will-make-a-cat-speak-and-a-wise-man/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [All fits of pleasure are balanced by an equal degree of pain or languor; it is like spending this year part of the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/all-fits-of-pleasure-are-balanced-by-an-equal-degree-of-pain-or/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [Satire is a sort of glass wherein beholders do generally discover everybody’s face but their own; which is the chief reason for that kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/satire-is-a-sort-of-glass-wherein-beholders-do-generally-discover/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [“When a great genius appears in the world you may know him by this sign; that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/when-a-great-genius-appears-in-the-world-you-may-know-him-by-this/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [I have ever hated all nations, professions, and communities, and all my love is toward individuals: for instance, I hate the tribe of lawyers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/i-have-ever-hated-all-nations-professions-and-communities-and-all-my/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [So endless and exorbitant are the desires of men that they will grasp at all, and can form no scheme of perfect happiness with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/so-endless-and-exorbitant-are-the-desires-of-men-that-they-will-grasp/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) [Explore all 535 Jonathan Swift quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) ## More Ears quotes > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. 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