--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We take such pains to be polite. We never…" description: "\"“We take such pains to be polite. We never say what we mean. For all it matters, we could greet each other and speak only of cheese - \"How was your Lim..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cb/libba-bray-259_greet_we-take-such-pains-to-be-polite-we-never_3102713.png" --- # We take such pains to be polite. We never say what we… ![“We take such pains to be polite. We never say what we mean. For all it matters, we could greet each other and speak only of cheese - "How was your Limburger, miss?" "Salty as a ripe Stinking Bishop, thank you." "Ah, very cheddar, miss. I'll have your Stilton brought to your Camembert, then." - and…” quote by Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cb/libba-bray-259_greet_we-take-such-pains-to-be-polite-we-never_3102713.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cb/libba-bray-259_greet_we-take-such-pains-to-be-polite-we-never_3102713.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cb/libba-bray-259_greet_we-take-such-pains-to-be-polite-we-never_3102713.png) > ““We take such pains to be polite. We never say what we mean. For all it matters, we could greet each other and speak only of cheese - "How was your Limburger, miss?" "Salty as a ripe Stinking Bishop, thank you." "Ah, very cheddar, miss. I'll have your Stilton brought to your Camembert, then." - and no one would likely notice.”” [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Politeness can mask true feelings, turning conversation into triviality. **In simple terms:** Politeness hides honesty. Key Takeaway Speak authentically. Themes communication politeness authenticity Mood witty ironic Type satirical conversational When to use this quote - formal meetings - social gatherings Key Concepts social masks honesty dialogue Questions to Reflect On - When is it okay to be blunt? - How do you balance honesty and kindness? A Different Perspective Being blunt may damage relationships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Polite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polite/) ## Related quotes > [“As if everything should be said safely or not at all and what you feel shouldn’t be taken seriously. Which is why it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pleasefindthis/as-if-everything-should-be-said-safely-or-not-at-all-and-what-you/) pleasefindthis > [Harry doesn't want to talk to us right now. He's just too polite to say so. -Luna Lovegood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/harry-doesn-t-want-to-talk-to-us-right-now-he-s-just-too-polite-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“She gave a low growl. “I’m leaving right after I greet them, because I’m polite and it’s not their fault you’re a manipulative—” “Good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alisha-rai/she-gave-a-low-growl-i-m-leaving-right-after-i-greet-them-because-i-m/) [Alisha Rai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alisha-rai/) > [“Most of us are ready to greet our worst enemies like long-lost brothers if we think they can show us a good time, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/budd-schulberg/most-of-us-are-ready-to-greet-our-worst-enemies-like-long-lost/) [Budd Schulberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/budd-schulberg/) > [Whether it's eight o'clock in the morning or eight o'clock at night, I always try to greet others before they have a chance to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/whether-it-s-eight-o-clock-in-the-morning-or-eight-o-clock-at-night-i/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [“There’s an upside to passengers too. A guy around 50, always travels on the first train of the day, always used to greet me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/there-s-an-upside-to-passengers-too-a-guy-around-50-always-travels-on/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Don't dodge difficulties; meet them, greet them, beat them. All great men have been through the wringer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-armand-montapert/don-t-dodge-difficulties-meet-them-greet-them-beat-them-all-great-men/) [Alfred Armand Montapert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-armand-montapert/) > [Some people say they have a thirst for life. They're excited about every day and they're prepared to look the bad and the good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-jo-martin/some-people-say-they-have-a-thirst-for-life-they-re-excited-about/) [Amy Jo Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-jo-martin/) > [“Life is both sad and solemn. We are let into a wonderful world, we meet one another here, greet each other—and wander together for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jostein-gaarder/life-is-both-sad-and-solemn-we-are-let-into-a-wonderful-world-we-meet/) [Jostein Gaarder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jostein-gaarder/) > [“The way you dress is how you greet the sun and other stars.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/the-way-you-dress-is-how-you-greet-the-sun-and-other-stars/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [To same people when I greet them it thasn't mean am your friend it mean am the greatest greeting you with a smile make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin/to-same-people-when-i-greet-them-it-thasn-t-mean-am-your-friend-it/) [KEVIN](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin/) > [When an opponent comes forward, move in and greet him; if he wants to pull back, send him on his way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/when-an-opponent-comes-forward-move-in-and-greet-him-if-he-wants-to/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) > [I don't think of myself as a kind of celebrity, but wherever I go, people know me; they greet me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-salinas-pliego/i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-a-kind-of-celebrity-but-wherever-i-go/) [Ricardo Salinas Pliego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-salinas-pliego/) > [“If you are uncomfortable meeting people on your own, the perfect way to do it is to volunteer to help greet those who arrive.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ramsay/if-you-are-uncomfortable-meeting-people-on-your-own-the-perfect-way/) [Beth Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ramsay/) > [“People like you - you don't find very often. He'll be back." "And when he comes back, I will behead him." I announce. "You'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-wolf/people-like-you-you-don-t-find-very-often-he-ll-be-back-and-when-he/) [Sara Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-wolf/) ## More by Libba Bray > [“I have never felt more ridiculous. If this is what it means to be a woman I am not the slightest bit interested.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/i-have-never-felt-more-ridiculous-if-this-is-what-it-means-to-be-a/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [There are no safe choices. Only other choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/there-are-no-safe-choices-only-other-choices/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [“The King of Crows raked his fingers across the dark until it bled. He licked the blood from his fingers with a forked tongue.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/the-king-of-crows-raked-his-fingers-across-the-dark-until-it-bled-he/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [It is how it has always been. We will accept the legacy of our ancestors,' Asha says, smiling, and in her smile I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/it-is-how-it-has-always-been-we-will-accept-the-legacy-of-our/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [The trouble with morning is that it comes well before noon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/the-trouble-with-morning-is-that-it-comes-well-before-noon/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [“Spare a copper for our cause?" the girl with the coin cup asks, her voice weary. "I can spare more than that," I say.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/spare-a-copper-for-our-cause-the-girl-with-the-coin-cup-asks-her/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [As one, they leap, laughing, and that is where we leave them - mouths open, arms spread wide, fingers splayed to take in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/as-one-they-leap-laughing-and-that-is-where-we-leave-them-mouths-open/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [I am for hockey. I find I should like to hit something with a stick. -Gemma Doyle Trilogy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/i-am-for-hockey-i-find-i-should-like-to-hit-something-with-a-stick/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [There are times when I wish I could go back and change the course of my life. Make different choices...But the past cannot be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/there-are-times-when-i-wish-i-could-go-back-and-change-the-course-of/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [“Sexuality is not meant to be this way - an honest, consensual expression in which a girl might take an active role when she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/sexuality-is-not-meant-to-be-this-way-an-honest-consensual-expression/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [There is no greater power on this earth than story.” Will paced the length of the room. “People think boundaries and borders build nations.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/there-is-no-greater-power-on-this-earth-than-story-will-paced-the/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [Heaven's brightest and best-loved angel, who was cast out for inspiring a rebellion against God. Having lost Heaven, Lucifer and his rebel angels vowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/heaven-s-brightest-and-best-loved-angel-who-was-cast-out-for/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [“The light is so bright it hurts my eyes. But I don't dare close them. I won't. Instead, I try to adjust to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/the-light-is-so-bright-it-hurts-my-eyes-but-i-don-t-dare-close-them-i/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [“Miss Moore speaks slowly, deliberately. "I know because I read." She pulls back and stands, hands on hips, offering us a challenge. "May I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/miss-moore-speaks-slowly-deliberately-i-know-because-i-read-she-pulls/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [“Duff's little moans traveled up her spine, made her head buzz. And another thought grabbed hold: She was doing this. She had the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/duff-s-little-moans-traveled-up-her-spine-made-her-head-buzz-and/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) [Explore all 774 Libba Bray quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) ## More Greet quotes > [“People like you - you don't find very often. He'll be back." "And when he comes back, I will behead him." I announce. "You'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-wolf/people-like-you-you-don-t-find-very-often-he-ll-be-back-and-when-he/) [Sara Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-wolf/) > [“If you are uncomfortable meeting people on your own, the perfect way to do it is to volunteer to help greet those who arrive.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ramsay/if-you-are-uncomfortable-meeting-people-on-your-own-the-perfect-way/) [Beth Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ramsay/) > [I don't think of myself as a kind of celebrity, but wherever I go, people know me; they greet me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-salinas-pliego/i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-a-kind-of-celebrity-but-wherever-i-go/) [Ricardo Salinas Pliego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-salinas-pliego/) > [When an opponent comes forward, move in and greet him; if he wants to pull back, send him on his way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/when-an-opponent-comes-forward-move-in-and-greet-him-if-he-wants-to/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) > [To same people when I greet them it thasn't mean am your friend it mean am the greatest greeting you with a smile make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin/to-same-people-when-i-greet-them-it-thasn-t-mean-am-your-friend-it/) [KEVIN](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin/) > [“The way you dress is how you greet the sun and other stars.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/the-way-you-dress-is-how-you-greet-the-sun-and-other-stars/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“Life is both sad and solemn. We are let into a wonderful world, we meet one another here, greet each other—and wander together for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jostein-gaarder/life-is-both-sad-and-solemn-we-are-let-into-a-wonderful-world-we-meet/) [Jostein Gaarder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jostein-gaarder/) > [Some people say they have a thirst for life. They're excited about every day and they're prepared to look the bad and the good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-jo-martin/some-people-say-they-have-a-thirst-for-life-they-re-excited-about/) [Amy Jo Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-jo-martin/) > [Don't dodge difficulties; meet them, greet them, beat them. All great men have been through the wringer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-armand-montapert/don-t-dodge-difficulties-meet-them-greet-them-beat-them-all-great-men/) [Alfred Armand Montapert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-armand-montapert/) > [“There’s an upside to passengers too. A guy around 50, always travels on the first train of the day, always used to greet me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/there-s-an-upside-to-passengers-too-a-guy-around-50-always-travels-on/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Whether it's eight o'clock in the morning or eight o'clock at night, I always try to greet others before they have a chance to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/whether-it-s-eight-o-clock-in-the-morning-or-eight-o-clock-at-night-i/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [The best of the people are the first to greet others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abu-umamah-al-bahili/the-best-of-the-people-are-the-first-to-greet-others/) Abu Umamah al Bahili > [I will greet this day with love in my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/i-will-greet-this-day-with-love-in-my-heart/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [With Cats, some say, one rule is true: Don’t speak till you are spoken to. Myself, I do not hold with that — I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/with-cats-some-say-one-rule-is-true-don-t-speak-till-you-are-spoken/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [And if sun comes / How shall we greet him? / Shall we not dread him, / Shall we not fear him / After…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwendolyn-brooks/and-if-sun-comes-how-shall-we-greet-him-shall-we-not-dread-him-shall/) [Gwendolyn Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwendolyn-brooks/) Browse all 106 Greet quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We take such pains to be polite. We never say what we mean. For all it matters, we could greet each other and speak only of cheese - \"How was your Limburger, miss?\" \"Salty as a ripe Stinking Bishop, thank you.\" \"Ah, very cheddar, miss. 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