--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I bow to the Captain—I think a curtsy…" description: "\"“I bow to the Captain—I think a curtsy would be a bit out of place here—and recite, in French, the little speech I had made up for these occasions to t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91c/l-a-meyer-11944_privateer_i-bow-to-the-captain-i-think-a-curtsy-wo_2071738.jpg" --- # I bow to the Captain—I think a curtsy would be a bit out… ![“I bow to the Captain—I think a curtsy would be a bit out of place here—and recite, in French, the little speech I had made up for these occasions to try to tone down my growing reputation as a bloodthirsty pirate. “I am Jacky La Faber. Perhaps you have heard of me. I am a privateer who takes ships…” quote by L.A. Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91c/l-a-meyer-11944_privateer_i-bow-to-the-captain-i-think-a-curtsy-wo_2071738.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91c/l-a-meyer-11944_privateer_i-bow-to-the-captain-i-think-a-curtsy-wo_2071738.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91c/l-a-meyer-11944_privateer_i-bow-to-the-captain-i-think-a-curtsy-wo_2071738.jpg) > ““I bow to the Captain—I think a curtsy would be a bit out of place here—and recite, in French, the little speech I had made up for these occasions to try to tone down my growing reputation as a bloodthirsty pirate. “I am Jacky La Faber. Perhaps you have heard of me. I am a privateer who takes ships and their cargoes, but I neither harm nor rob the crews or the passengers of the ships I seize, no matter what you may have heard. You and your men will be put in one of your lifeboats and allowed to return to France.”” [L.A. Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-meyer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A pirate tries to soften his fearsome reputation by speaking politely and offering a courteous surrender, highlighting the tension between violent identity and genteel behavior. **In simple terms:** A pirate pretends to be polite to improve his image. Key Takeaway Use words to reshape perception. Themes identity reputation politeness conflict Mood wry ironic playful Type literary character dialogue When to use this quote - negotiations - role‑play - public speaking - conflict resolution Key Concepts social performance self‑presentation strategic communication Questions to Reflect On - Can language truly alter how others see you? - When is a courteous façade appropriate? A Different Perspective Politeness may not change underlying actions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“Grayson, I’m going to dance on the day that you swing.” “If he swings, I swing with him.” Joss rose to his feet. Gray…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/grayson-i-m-going-to-dance-on-the-day-that-you-swing-if-he-swings-i/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“A privateer learns to press any advantage.” “And a prince?” “Princes get used to the word yes .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/a-privateer-learns-to-press-any-advantage-and-a-prince-princes-get/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [Sturmhond, a privateer from the second book in the series, Siege and Storm,' is probably my favorite character. He's pure confidence and that's always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/sturmhond-a-privateer-from-the-second-book-in-the-series-siege-and/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“any rational privateer would have long since scuttled southwards until the weather improved. No prize could be boarded in this. By”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-stockwin/any-rational-privateer-would-have-long-since-scuttled-southwards/) Julian Stockwin > [“If the privateer you've hired is entirely trustworthy, he's probably not much of a privateer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/if-the-privateer-you-ve-hired-is-entirely-trustworthy-he-s-probably/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I'll get them out and come back. I promise." "On your word as a cutthroat and a pirate?" He touched my cheek once, briefly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-ll-get-them-out-and-come-back-i-promise-on-your-word-as-a-cutthroat/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) ## More by L.A. Meyer > [“it is not impossible that I could become Governor of this state. Or even President. I would not mind having a horde of sycophants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-meyer/it-is-not-impossible-that-i-could-become-governor-of-this-state-or/) [L.A. Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-meyer/) > [men i swear." -jacky faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-meyer/men-i-swear-jacky-faber/) [L.A. Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-meyer/) > [“Then it hits me… And it hits me with the force of a blow. I am maybe fifteen years old. I am a girl.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-meyer/then-it-hits-me-and-it-hits-me-with-the-force-of-a-blow-i-am-maybe/) [L.A. Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-meyer/) > [Well,' I shrug, all innocent, 'we all ride our little hobbyhorses, don't we, Mr. Peel?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-meyer/well-i-shrug-all-innocent-we-all-ride-our-little-hobbyhorses-don-t-we/) [L.A. Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-meyer/) > [“I weave through all these happy, smiling faces, knowing that we have put on the best show we could—and I do love putting on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-meyer/i-weave-through-all-these-happy-smiling-faces-knowing-that-we-have/) [L.A. Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-meyer/) > [“Now, you just forget about Jaimy, 'cause he's sure forgot about you, the snob. Now let's me and you go and get married and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-meyer/now-you-just-forget-about-jaimy-cause-he-s-sure-forgot-about-you-the/) [L.A. Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-meyer/) > [“While there are some who extol your virtues, Miss Faber, there are others who wonder why you are not yet hanged.” “I have determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-meyer/while-there-are-some-who-extol-your-virtues-miss-faber-there-are/) [L.A. Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-meyer/) > [“It is dances like these, I have found, that make the world go ’round. It is how glances are exchanged, alliances are made, vows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-meyer/it-is-dances-like-these-i-have-found-that-make-the-world-go-round-it/) [L.A. Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-meyer/) > [“My nature is to be cheerful and my foolish self is very likely to be led astray by happy, frivolous things, things of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-meyer/my-nature-is-to-be-cheerful-and-my-foolish-self-is-very-likely-to-be/) [L.A. Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-meyer/) > [“I'll be a lady tomorrow”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-meyer/i-ll-be-a-lady-tomorrow/) [L.A. Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-meyer/) > [“I go to the rail and shout after her as she descends the stairs, "But that Mrs. Shinn called me a whore! In front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-meyer/i-go-to-the-rail-and-shout-after-her-as-she-descends-the-stairs-but/) [L.A. Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-meyer/) > [“It's easier bein' a boy, 'cause when someone needs somethin' done like holdin' a horse, they'll always pick a boy 'cause they think the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-meyer/it-s-easier-bein-a-boy-cause-when-someone-needs-somethin-done-like/) [L.A. Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-meyer/) > [I'm really a peaceful sort of coward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-meyer/i-m-really-a-peaceful-sort-of-coward/) [L.A. Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-meyer/) > [You was talkin' out of yer head last night, too," chortles Davy. "No one's gonna fancy me. I'm gonna be ugly and no on'es…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-meyer/you-was-talkin-out-of-yer-head-last-night-too-chortles-davy-no-one-s/) [L.A. Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-meyer/) > [“It went on like that till some guys got together and came up with the one-god thing—him being God, the Father, and male and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-meyer/it-went-on-like-that-till-some-guys-got-together-and-came-up-with-the/) [L.A. Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-meyer/) [Explore all 57 L.A. Meyer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-meyer/) ## More Privateer quotes > [“A privateer learns to press any advantage.” “And a prince?” “Princes get used to the word yes .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/a-privateer-learns-to-press-any-advantage-and-a-prince-princes-get/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [Sturmhond, a privateer from the second book in the series, Siege and Storm,' is probably my favorite character. He's pure confidence and that's always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/sturmhond-a-privateer-from-the-second-book-in-the-series-siege-and/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“any rational privateer would have long since scuttled southwards until the weather improved. No prize could be boarded in this. By”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-stockwin/any-rational-privateer-would-have-long-since-scuttled-southwards/) Julian Stockwin > [“If the privateer you've hired is entirely trustworthy, he's probably not much of a privateer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/if-the-privateer-you-ve-hired-is-entirely-trustworthy-he-s-probably/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I'll get them out and come back. I promise." "On your word as a cutthroat and a pirate?" He touched my cheek once, briefly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-ll-get-them-out-and-come-back-i-promise-on-your-word-as-a-cutthroat/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) Browse all 6 Privateer quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I bow to the Captain—I think a curtsy would be a bit out of place here—and recite, in French, the little speech I had made up for these occasions to try to tone down my growing reputation as a bloodthirsty pirate. “I am Jacky La Faber. Perhaps you have heard of me. I am a privateer who takes ships and their cargoes, but I neither harm nor rob the crews or the passengers of the ships I seize, no matter what you may have heard. You and your men will be put in one of your lifeboats and allowed to return to France.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "L.A. Meyer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-meyer/i-bow-to-the-captain-i-think-a-curtsy-would-be-a-bit-out-of-place/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Privateer" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-meyer/i-bow-to-the-captain-i-think-a-curtsy-would-be-a-bit-out-of-place/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91c/l-a-meyer-11944_privateer_i-bow-to-the-captain-i-think-a-curtsy-wo_2071738.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91c/l-a-meyer-11944_privateer_i-bow-to-the-captain-i-think-a-curtsy-wo_2071738.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91c/l-a-meyer-11944_privateer_i-bow-to-the-captain-i-think-a-curtsy-wo_2071738.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I bow to the Captain—I think a curtsy would be a bit out of place here—and recite, in French, the little…” — L.A. Meyer", "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": "L.A. Meyer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-meyer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I bow to the Captain—I think...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-meyer/i-bow-to-the-captain-i-think-a-curtsy-would-be-a-bit-out-of-place/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-meyer/i-bow-to-the-captain-i-think-a-curtsy-would-be-a-bit-out-of-place/#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 } } ] } ```