--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Welcome to finishing school, Gemma. Learn…" description: "\"“Welcome to finishing school, Gemma. Learn to embroider, serve tea, curtsy. Oh, and by the way, you might be demolished in the night by a hideous winge..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0c/libba-bray-259_finishing-school_welcome-to-finishing-school-gemma-learn_2196621.jpg" --- # Welcome to finishing school, Gemma. Learn to embroider… ![“Welcome to finishing school, Gemma. Learn to embroider, serve tea, curtsy. Oh, and by the way, you might be demolished in the night by a hideous winged creature from the roof.” quote by Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0c/libba-bray-259_finishing-school_welcome-to-finishing-school-gemma-learn_2196621.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0c/libba-bray-259_finishing-school_welcome-to-finishing-school-gemma-learn_2196621.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0c/libba-bray-259_finishing-school_welcome-to-finishing-school-gemma-learn_2196621.jpg) > ““Welcome to finishing school, Gemma. Learn to embroider, serve tea, curtsy. Oh, and by the way, you might be demolished in the night by a hideous winged creature from the roof.”” [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. The narrator humorously warns of a dangerous, fantastical threat amid mundane school life. **In simple terms:** School life hides unexpected dangers. Key Takeaway Stay alert to hidden risks. Themes school danger fantasy Mood playful dark Type literary fantasy When to use this quote - first day of school - nighttime safety - creative writing - role‑play games Key Concepts mythical creatures coming‑of‑age Questions to Reflect On - What ‘winged creatures’ haunt your daily routine? - How do you prepare for unexpected challenges? A Different Perspective The threat may be metaphorical, representing internal fears. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Finishing school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finishing-school/) [Gemma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gemma/) [Gemma Learn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gemma-learn-4807142/) [Hideous Winged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hideous-winged-4807143/) [School Gemma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school-gemma-4807141/) ## Related quotes > [This is the world we live in, Gemma, for better or for worse. Make of it what you can," he says, and I pull…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/this-is-the-world-we-live-in-gemma-for-better-or-for-worse-make-of-it/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [You and I, we must carry on, Gemma. I cannot afford the luxury of love. I must marry well. And now I must look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/you-and-i-we-must-carry-on-gemma-i-cannot-afford-the-luxury-of-love-i/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [Gemma~Was he really looking at me that way? Kartik~What way? Gemma~Like a piece of ripe fruit? Katrik~You'd best be on your guard with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/gemma-was-he-really-looking-at-me-that-way-kartik-what-way-gemma-like/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [There is never any turning back Gemma. You have to go forward. Make the future yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/there-is-never-any-turning-back-gemma-you-have-to-go-forward-make-the/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [“Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Felicity and Ann hunched over their ornaments as if they were fascinating relics from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/out-of-the-corner-of-my-eye-i-can-see-felicity-and-ann-hunched-over/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [“I understand we'll be attending your friend Miss Worthington's Christmas ball. Perhaps I'll find a suitable-- which is to say wealthy-- wife among the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/i-understand-we-ll-be-attending-your-friend-miss-worthington-s/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [“I’m sad to be finishing school. I liked being in college. It was respectable to be a student. You get discount admissions all over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/i-m-sad-to-be-finishing-school-i-liked-being-in-college-it-was/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [America has a terrible educational problem in the sense that we have too many youngsters not finishing school. A third of our kids don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/america-has-a-terrible-educational-problem-in-the-sense-that-we-have/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Some day we'll awake, have a reformation of the heart, teach our kids honor and kill a few sex psychologists, put boys in high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/some-day-we-ll-awake-have-a-reformation-of-the-heart-teach-our-kids/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [I think, from every actor I've ever spoken to, they say the biggest thing they regret from life is not finishing school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-holland/i-think-from-every-actor-i-ve-ever-spoken-to-they-say-the-biggest/) [Tom Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-holland/) > [Humor is anger that was sent to finishing school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-peck/humor-is-anger-that-was-sent-to-finishing-school/) [Richard Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-peck/) > [...even though I was getting better education at home than any of the kids in Toyah, I'd need to go to finishing school when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/even-though-i-was-getting-better-education-at-home-than-any-of-the/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [Better days will come. Just focus on your life after finishing school. Your dreams and wishes! Don't give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/better-days-will-come-just-focus-on-your-life-after-finishing-school/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was sent to a finishing school, which didn't last long when mother found out how badly chaperoned we were. Then I 'came out'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wesley/i-was-sent-to-a-finishing-school-which-didn-t-last-long-when-mother/) [Mary Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wesley/) > [They are called finishing-schools and the name tells accurately what they are. They finish everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olive-schreiner/they-are-called-finishing-schools-and-the-name-tells-accurately-what/) [Olive Schreiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olive-schreiner/) ## 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 Finishing school quotes > [They are called finishing-schools and the name tells accurately what they are. They finish everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olive-schreiner/they-are-called-finishing-schools-and-the-name-tells-accurately-what/) [Olive Schreiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olive-schreiner/) > [I was sent to a finishing school, which didn't last long when mother found out how badly chaperoned we were. Then I 'came out'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wesley/i-was-sent-to-a-finishing-school-which-didn-t-last-long-when-mother/) [Mary Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wesley/) > [Better days will come. Just focus on your life after finishing school. Your dreams and wishes! Don't give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/better-days-will-come-just-focus-on-your-life-after-finishing-school/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [...even though I was getting better education at home than any of the kids in Toyah, I'd need to go to finishing school when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/even-though-i-was-getting-better-education-at-home-than-any-of-the/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [Humor is anger that was sent to finishing school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-peck/humor-is-anger-that-was-sent-to-finishing-school/) [Richard Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-peck/) > [I think, from every actor I've ever spoken to, they say the biggest thing they regret from life is not finishing school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-holland/i-think-from-every-actor-i-ve-ever-spoken-to-they-say-the-biggest/) [Tom Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-holland/) > [Some day we'll awake, have a reformation of the heart, teach our kids honor and kill a few sex psychologists, put boys in high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/some-day-we-ll-awake-have-a-reformation-of-the-heart-teach-our-kids/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [America has a terrible educational problem in the sense that we have too many youngsters not finishing school. A third of our kids don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/america-has-a-terrible-educational-problem-in-the-sense-that-we-have/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [“I’m sad to be finishing school. I liked being in college. It was respectable to be a student. You get discount admissions all over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/i-m-sad-to-be-finishing-school-i-liked-being-in-college-it-was/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [True feminine beauty is not a complicated formula involving hundreds of rules to remember. It is not something that requires spending two years at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-ludy/true-feminine-beauty-is-not-a-complicated-formula-involving-hundreds/) [Leslie Ludy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-ludy/) > [My mother was a star-struck girl from a little town in Arkansas who had gone to finishing school in New York, and whose mother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hamilton/my-mother-was-a-star-struck-girl-from-a-little-town-in-arkansas-who/) [George Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hamilton/) > [“Most girls recently out of finishing school are like soufflés: puffed up, not very substantial inside, and prone to collapsing at the slightest provocation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/most-girls-recently-out-of-finishing-school-are-like-souffl-s-puffed/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [Acting is not a thing where I'm from. Finishing school is a big thing. Not a lot of people finish school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-keoghan/acting-is-not-a-thing-where-i-m-from-finishing-school-is-a-big-thing/) [Barry Keoghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-keoghan/) > [ \[Finishing schools\] are nicely adapted machines for experimenting on the question, "Into how little space a human being can be crushed?" I have seen… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olive-schreiner/finishing-schools-are-nicely-adapted-machines-for-experimenting-on/) [Olive Schreiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olive-schreiner/) > [Quietly Sophronia added, "And the soot on my dress, sir?" "I didn't see anything." Professor Braithwope smiled down at her, showing a small hint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/quietly-sophronia-added-and-the-soot-on-my-dress-sir-i-didn-t-see/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) [Browse all 20 Finishing school quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finishing-school/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Welcome to finishing school, Gemma. Learn to embroider, serve tea, curtsy. 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