--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why, for mercy's sake, did boys try to…" description: "\"“Why, for mercy's sake, did boys try to dance who didn't know the first thing about dancing; and who had feet as big as boats?”\" — L.M. Montgomery" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1d/l-m-montgomery-567_compassion_why-for-mercy-s-sake-did-boys-try-to-dan_345237.jpg" --- # Why, for mercy's sake, did boys try to dance who didn't… ![“Why, for mercy's sake, did boys try to dance who didn't know the first thing about dancing; and who had feet as big as boats?” quote by L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1d/l-m-montgomery-567_compassion_why-for-mercy-s-sake-did-boys-try-to-dan_345237.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1d/l-m-montgomery-567_compassion_why-for-mercy-s-sake-did-boys-try-to-dan_345237.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1d/l-m-montgomery-567_compassion_why-for-mercy-s-sake-did-boys-try-to-dan_345237.jpg) > ““Why, for mercy's sake, did boys try to dance who didn't know the first thing about dancing; and who had feet as big as boats?”” [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker mocks inexperienced boys attempting to dance, highlighting their lack of skill and oversized feet. **In simple terms:** Mocking clumsy dancers. Key Takeaway Don’t judge others for lack of skill. Themes humor criticism insecurity Mood playful critical Type humorous observational When to use this quote - school dances - first dates - team building exercises - public speaking - social gatherings Key Concepts social awkwardness performance anxiety Questions to Reflect On - How can we support beginners without ridicule? - What does this reveal about confidence? A Different Perspective The humor may belittle rather than encourage learning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Dancing Feet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancing-feet/) ## Related quotes > [I am not sure that it is a bad thing to go to a school, as I did, where the boys threw things at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-merritt-chase/i-am-not-sure-that-it-is-a-bad-thing-to-go-to-a-school-as-i-did-where/) [William Merritt Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-merritt-chase/) > [“According to Francis, Narkis and Zoltar have been plotting against their dad.” “He did name his boys Narkis and Zoltar.” “Good point. I’d have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-hunter/according-to-francis-narkis-and-zoltar-have-been-plotting-against/) [Faith Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-hunter/) > [Even if you're a guy and you don't believe in dancing, you should try dance cardio. It's really fun!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/even-if-you-re-a-guy-and-you-don-t-believe-in-dancing-you-should-try/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [“He sighed against my hair. "Be good. Listen to the boys. Try not to get them into any trouble." I scoffed. "I don't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-l-stone/he-sighed-against-my-hair-be-good-listen-to-the-boys-try-not-to-get/) [C.L. Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-l-stone/) > [All the other boys...Try to chase me...but here's my number. So call me, maybe?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-rae-jepsen/all-the-other-boys-try-to-chase-me-but-here-s-my-number-so-call-me/) [Carly Rae Jepsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-rae-jepsen/) > [When ugly boys try to holla.throw off](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayla/when-ugly-boys-try-to-holla-throw-off/) [Kayla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayla/) > [“I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to dance better than myself. —MIKHAIL BARYSHNIKOV”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-do-not-try-to-dance-better-than-anyone-else-i-only-try-to-dance/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm going to try everything. If it works, it works, if it don't, it don't. But at least I tried it, you know? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glorilla/i-m-going-to-try-everything-if-it-works-it-works-if-it-don-t-it-don-t/) [GloRilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glorilla/) > [I'm not known as a singer, but in life I like to do things that are a bit beyond my reach to keep myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hamilton/i-m-not-known-as-a-singer-but-in-life-i-like-to-do-things-that-are-a/) [George Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hamilton/) > [Don't ever drink a lot of water right after you had your meal and try to dance.. Trust me it's deadly..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sachithra/don-t-ever-drink-a-lot-of-water-right-after-you-had-your-meal-and-try/) [Sachithra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sachithra/) > [Don't evr drnk 2 mch o' water ryt aftr u had ur meal n try to dance…trust me it's deadly..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sachithra/don-t-evr-drnk-2-mch-o-water-ryt-aftr-u-had-ur-meal-n-try-to-dance/) [Sachithra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sachithra/) > [I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to to dance better than myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-do-not-try-to-dance-better-than-anyone-else-i-only-try-to-to-dance/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [My dance skills are reliant on me being a bit pickled in a nightclub, if I try to do a dance move sober it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-whaite/my-dance-skills-are-reliant-on-me-being-a-bit-pickled-in-a-nightclub/) [John Whaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-whaite/) > [I don't try to dance better than anybody but myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-don-t-try-to-dance-better-than-anybody-but-myself/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [I always wanted to teach dance. I didn't know I'd have a TV career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-edwards/i-always-wanted-to-teach-dance-i-didn-t-know-i-d-have-a-tv-career/) [Alyssa Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-edwards/) ## More by L.M. Montgomery > [“The other day Nan said, 'Nothing can ever be quite the same for any of us again.' It made me feel rebellious. Why shouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/the-other-day-nan-said-nothing-can-ever-be-quite-the-same-for-any-of/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“It's a very bad habit to put off disagreeable things...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/it-s-a-very-bad-habit-to-put-off-disagreeable-things/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“Who was it said, ‘We forget because we must’? He was right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/who-was-it-said-we-forget-because-we-must-he-was-right/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“I don't think it's any help that it's your habit. What would you think of a person who went about sticking pins and needles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/i-don-t-think-it-s-any-help-that-it-s-your-habit-what-would-you-think/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“What a splendid day! Isn't it good just to be alive on a day like this? I pity the people who aren't born yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/what-a-splendid-day-isn-t-it-good-just-to-be-alive-on-a-day-like-this/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“I told you the Bible was more to be depended on than newspapers!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/i-told-you-the-bible-was-more-to-be-depended-on-than-newspapers/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“On a day like this there's no such word as fail in my bright lexicon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/on-a-day-like-this-there-s-no-such-word-as-fail-in-my-bright-lexicon/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“I took the brooch because I was too overcome with irresistible temptation. I was imagining I was Lady Cordelia Fitzgerald, and I just had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/i-took-the-brooch-because-i-was-too-overcome-with-irresistible/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“…she made a poem on it at once, the lines singing themselves through her consciousness without effort. With one side of her nature she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/she-made-a-poem-on-it-at-once-the-lines-singing-themselves-through/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“I think there are two kinds of TRUE THINGS-- true things that ARE, and true things that ARE NOT, but MIGHT be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/i-think-there-are-two-kinds-of-true-things-true-things-that-are-and/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“when the darkness is close to us it is a friend. But when we sorter push it away from us—divorce ourselves from it, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/when-the-darkness-is-close-to-us-it-is-a-friend-but-when-we-sorter/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“Yesterday she had been all her own. Now she was this man's.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/yesterday-she-had-been-all-her-own-now-she-was-this-man-s/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“I suppose that's how it looks in prose. But it's very different if you look at it through poetry…and I think it's nicer…' Anne…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/i-suppose-that-s-how-it-looks-in-prose-but-it-s-very-different-if-you/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“Ilse and I hunted all over the old orchard today for a four-leaved clover and couldn't find one. Then I found one in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/ilse-and-i-hunted-all-over-the-old-orchard-today-for-a-four-leaved/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“Nothing seems worthwhile. My very thoughts are old. I've thought them all before. What is the use of living after all, Anne?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/nothing-seems-worthwhile-my-very-thoughts-are-old-i-ve-thought-them/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) [Explore all 463 L.M. Montgomery quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) ## More Compassion quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/) Segun Magbagbeola > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. 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