--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Could you attempt, at least, to make…" description: "\"“Could you attempt, at least, to make yourself presentable? I know this is a war, but the rest of us are trying to pretend it's a party.”\" — Kristin Ca..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/270/kristin-cashore-369_attempt_could-you-attempt-at-least-to-make-yours_2257107.png" --- # Could you attempt, at least, to make yourself presentable?… ![“Could you attempt, at least, to make yourself presentable? I know this is a war, but the rest of us are trying to pretend it's a party.” quote by Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/270/kristin-cashore-369_attempt_could-you-attempt-at-least-to-make-yours_2257107.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/270/kristin-cashore-369_attempt_could-you-attempt-at-least-to-make-yours_2257107.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/270/kristin-cashore-369_attempt_could-you-attempt-at-least-to-make-yours_2257107.png) > ““Could you attempt, at least, to make yourself presentable? I know this is a war, but the rest of us are trying to pretend it's a party.”” [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. In a chaotic situation, someone urges others to maintain decorum and act as if it were a celebration despite the underlying conflict. **In simple terms:** Act politely even when things feel like a battle. Key Takeaway Maintain composure under pressure. Themes conflict social norms appearance resilience Mood tense reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - war zones - political negotiations - family gatherings - stressful events Key Concepts psychology social dynamics masking Questions to Reflect On - When is it appropriate to mask true feelings? - How does a “party” mindset affect coping? A Different Perspective Pretending can suppress genuine emotions and cause strain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attempt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attempt/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Make Presentable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-presentable-4030632/) [Pretend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretend/) [Pretend Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretend-party-5178889/) [Sarcasm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sarcasm/) [Trying Pretend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-pretend-1505532/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“Brigan, could you attempt, at least, to make yourself presentable? I know this is a war, but the rest of us are trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/brigan-could-you-attempt-at-least-to-make-yourself-presentable-i-know/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“I know this is war, but the rest of us are trying to pretend it's a party.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/i-know-this-is-war-but-the-rest-of-us-are-trying-to-pretend-it-s-a/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [If you are so embarrassed about yourself that cannot even present your real face to others , why don't you put some efforts to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/if-you-are-so-embarrassed-about-yourself-that-cannot-even-present/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [I'm not a cheerleader. I'm not trying to pretend to be sweet and then come out and be bad. This is who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-ford/i-m-not-a-cheerleader-i-m-not-trying-to-pretend-to-be-sweet-and-then/) [Willa Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-ford/) > [“We have our swordsman, so let's get moving. Brigan, could you attempt, at least, to make yourself presentable? I know this is a war,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/we-have-our-swordsman-so-let-s-get-moving-brigan-could-you-attempt-at/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [To rob the Negro of his reputation of thinking through a problem in his own fashion is about the same as trying to pretend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-helms/to-rob-the-negro-of-his-reputation-of-thinking-through-a-problem-in/) [Jesse Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-helms/) > [“Because at the end of the day that’s what we’re all trying to do: fit in, one way or another, desperately trying to pretend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tabitha-suzuma/because-at-the-end-of-the-day-that-s-what-we-re-all-trying-to-do-fit/) [Tabitha Suzuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tabitha-suzuma/) > [I've had to spend an awful lot of my life trying to pretend I'm not posh. Although once I open my mouth, I rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-imrie/i-ve-had-to-spend-an-awful-lot-of-my-life-trying-to-pretend-i-m-not/) [Celia Imrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-imrie/) > [Nothing is more embarrassing than calling someone the wrong name, but nothing is harder than trying to pretend you know someone's name when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-cooper/nothing-is-more-embarrassing-than-calling-someone-the-wrong-name-but/) [Sarah Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-cooper/) > [Without McFly, who are we? Trying to find out and pretend you're happy with that new version of you was really difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-fletcher/without-mcfly-who-are-we-trying-to-find-out-and-pretend-you-re-happy/) [Tom Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-fletcher/) > [I'm not dyeing my hair and trying to pretend I'm 40. That's not going to work for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-fishburne/i-m-not-dyeing-my-hair-and-trying-to-pretend-i-m-40-that-s-not-going/) [Laurence Fishburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-fishburne/) > [There was a positive side to not trying at something: you could always pretend that your life would have been different if you had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-abani/there-was-a-positive-side-to-not-trying-at-something-you-could-always/) [Chris Abani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-abani/) > [I am trying to make my accent so it won't bother anyone, but I am not going to drive myself crazy trying to pretend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/i-am-trying-to-make-my-accent-so-it-won-t-bother-anyone-but-i-am-not/) [Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/) > [I might appear confident and chatty, but I spend most of my time laughing at jokes I don't find funny, saying things I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tabitha-suzuma/i-might-appear-confident-and-chatty-but-i-spend-most-of-my-time/) [Tabitha Suzuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tabitha-suzuma/) > [“No, you're not. And you're not fooling anybody by trying to pretend you are. Maybe it's because of what you've been through. Maybe it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton-2/no-you-re-not-and-you-re-not-fooling-anybody-by-trying-to-pretend-you/) [M Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton-2/) ## More by Kristin Cashore > [“Back onto their horses, and shortly thereafter word had come around from the command units that any soldier brawling over any matter relating to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/back-onto-their-horses-and-shortly-thereafter-word-had-come-around/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“The girls clipped and swept, and Katsa’s hair fell away. She thrilled at the unfamiliar chill of air on her neck. And wondered if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/the-girls-clipped-and-swept-and-katsa-s-hair-fell-away-she-thrilled/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“Raffin appeared again, a floor above her, on the balconied passageway that ran past his workrooms. He leaned over the railing and called down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/raffin-appeared-again-a-floor-above-her-on-the-balconied-passageway/) [Kristin cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“When you’re a monster, she thought, you are thanked and praised for not behaving like a monster. She would like to restrain from cruelty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/when-you-re-a-monster-she-thought-you-are-thanked-and-praised-for-not/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“She glanced up at him, and in that moment he pulled his wet shirt over his head. She forced her mind blank. Blank as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/she-glanced-up-at-him-and-in-that-moment-he-pulled-his-wet-shirt-over/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“She had thought she'd already reached her capacity for pain and had no room inside her for more. But she remembered having told Archer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/she-had-thought-she-d-already-reached-her-capacity-for-pain-and-had/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“He thinks it's dangerous for us to leave each other so much freedom and make these vague plans to travel together in the future,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/he-thinks-it-s-dangerous-for-us-to-leave-each-other-so-much-freedom/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [Ideas were growing in all directions and dimensions; they were becoming a sculpture, or a castle. And then everyone left her, to return to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/ideas-were-growing-in-all-directions-and-dimensions-they-were/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [But everyone has some kind of power to hurt people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/but-everyone-has-some-kind-of-power-to-hurt-people/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“Papa?” she said, turning in circles now, spinning to look at each of the entrances. “Do you mean Papa? Where?” He came through an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/papa-she-said-turning-in-circles-now-spinning-to-look-at-each-of-the/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“He decided to mark this new era in his life with a change of his foolish, sentimental name. The people of this land had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/he-decided-to-mark-this-new-era-in-his-life-with-a-change-of-his/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [I know you don't want this, Katsa. But I can't help myself. The moment you came barreling into my life I was lost. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/i-know-you-don-t-want-this-katsa-but-i-can-t-help-myself-the-moment/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“Como no te has dado cuenta de que tus ojos me atrapan igual que te ocurre a ti con los míos”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/como-no-te-has-dado-cuenta-de-que-tus-ojos-me-atrapan-igual-que-te/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [I've been afraid of being Cansrel,' she said aloud to her reflection. 'But I'm not Cansrel.' At her elbow, Musa said blandly, 'Any one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/i-ve-been-afraid-of-being-cansrel-she-said-aloud-to-her-reflection/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [Find something useful to do with your morning,' she thought to him as she neared her chambers. 'Do something heroic in front of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/find-something-useful-to-do-with-your-morning-she-thought-to-him-as/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) [Explore all 604 Kristin Cashore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) ## More Attempt quotes > [Even though you can't expect to defeat the absurdity of the world, you must make that attempt. That's morality, that's religion. That's art. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ochs/even-though-you-can-t-expect-to-defeat-the-absurdity-of-the-world-you/) [Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/) > [I'm not technically proficient enough to attempt all kinds of music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-gallagher/i-m-not-technically-proficient-enough-to-attempt-all-kinds-of-music/) [Noel Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-gallagher/) > [Realizing that they can't get their agenda across: against religious liberty, against a culture of life, they can't get those issues across through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-parsley/realizing-that-they-can-t-get-their-agenda-across-against-religious/) [Rod Parsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-parsley/) > [It is sometimes a mistake to climb. It is always a mistake never even to make the attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-sometimes-a-mistake-to-climb-it-is-always-a-mistake-never-even/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I will never attempt to even begin to make excuses for what I did in football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-storey/i-will-never-attempt-to-even-begin-to-make-excuses-for-what-i-did-in/) [Peter Storey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-storey/) > [“We all perish in our last attempt to live.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/we-all-perish-in-our-last-attempt-to-live/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [There was an attempt on my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jovenel-moise/there-was-an-attempt-on-my-life/) [Jovenel Moise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jovenel-moise/) > [The publishing of a book is a worldwide event. The attempt to suppress a book is a worldwide event.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/the-publishing-of-a-book-is-a-worldwide-event-the-attempt-to-suppress/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Advocacy groups in the USA, as in other countries, may not be able to silence this hateful, cowardly and deceitful attack upon people’s humanity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-engela/advocacy-groups-in-the-usa-as-in-other-countries-may-not-be-able-to/) [Christina Engela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-engela/) > [There are many things that seem impossible only so long as one does not attempt them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gide/there-are-many-things-that-seem-impossible-only-so-long-as-one-does/) [Andre Gide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gide/) > [For purposes of marketing, writers are designated as poets, novelists, or something else. But writing is about matchmaking, an attempt to marry sensations with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teju-cole/for-purposes-of-marketing-writers-are-designated-as-poets-novelists/) [Teju Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teju-cole/) > [It's my first sort of commercial attempt, but it made sense for me because I'm not that kind of guy and I'm not going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/it-s-my-first-sort-of-commercial-attempt-but-it-made-sense-for-me/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [In all civilizations we've studied, all cultures that we know of across the Earth and across time have invested some kind of attempt to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-all-civilizations-we-ve-studied-all-cultures-that-we-know-of/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [It is sometimes a mistake to climb. It is always a mistake to never make the attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/it-is-sometimes-a-mistake-to-climb-it-is-always-a-mistake-to-never/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [My explanation remains the same: It was an attempt to make the point that anyone who opposed the war can achieve their objective by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-p-moran/my-explanation-remains-the-same-it-was-an-attempt-to-make-the-point/) [James P. Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-p-moran/) [Browse all 516 Attempt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attempt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Could you attempt, at least, to make yourself presentable? 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