--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Really, the insufferable conceit of the…" description: "\"“Really, the insufferable conceit of the man. How dared he have the unutterable gall to know how her knees weakened at the sight of him, how she felt f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58f/margaret-westhaven-36753_books_really-the-insufferable-conceit-of-the-m_2885891.jpg" --- # Really, the insufferable conceit of the man. How dared he… ![“Really, the insufferable conceit of the man. How dared he have the unutterable gall to know how her knees weakened at the sight of him, how she felt full of life and spirit when he was with her, how his very touch sent fire coursing through her veins in a way she hadn't known existed outside the…” quote by Margaret Westhaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58f/margaret-westhaven-36753_books_really-the-insufferable-conceit-of-the-m_2885891.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58f/margaret-westhaven-36753_books_really-the-insufferable-conceit-of-the-m_2885891.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58f/margaret-westhaven-36753_books_really-the-insufferable-conceit-of-the-m_2885891.jpg) > ““Really, the insufferable conceit of the man. How dared he have the unutterable gall to know how her knees weakened at the sight of him, how she felt full of life and spirit when he was with her, how his very touch sent fire coursing through her veins in a way she hadn't known existed outside the pages of lending-library novels!”” [Margaret Westhaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-westhaven/) ## 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 describes a man's arrogant belief that he can perceive intimate, intense emotions in a woman, likening it to exaggerated literary tropes. **In simple terms:** A man boasts about knowing a woman's deep feelings, using dramatic novel language. Key Takeaway Beware of overconfidence and romanticized perceptions. Themes pride romanticism perception Mood cynical reflective Type observational critical When to use this quote - relationship dynamics - self-awareness - literary critique Key Concepts psychology literary exaggeration Questions to Reflect On - Do you ever overestimate your insight into others? - How does literary language affect our view of relationships? A Different Perspective Such self‑important claims often ignore genuine emotional complexity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Conceit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conceit/) [Conceit Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conceit-man-3099424/) [Insufferable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insufferable/) [Insufferable Conceit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insufferable-conceit-4025687/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Really Insufferable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-insufferable-4025688/) ## Related quotes > [From my point of view, a great deal of openly expressed piety is insufferable conceit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/from-my-point-of-view-a-great-deal-of-openly-expressed-piety-is/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [For what are they all in their high conceit, When man in the bush with God may meet?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/for-what-are-they-all-in-their-high-conceit-when-man-in-the-bush-with/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“We picture the world as thick with conquering and elate humanity, but here, with the bugles of the tempest peeling, it was hard to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/we-picture-the-world-as-thick-with-conquering-and-elate-humanity-but/) [Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/) > [If there is one thing that will make a man peculiarly and insufferable self-conceited, it is to have his stomach behave itself, the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/if-there-is-one-thing-that-will-make-a-man-peculiarly-and/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [If the general attitude of Canadians toward their mighty neighbor to the south could be distilled into a single phrase, that phrase would probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-mccall/if-the-general-attitude-of-canadians-toward-their-mighty-neighbor-to/) [Bruce McCall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-mccall/) > [Men seek rest in a struggle against difficulties; and when they have conquered these, rest becomes insufferable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/men-seek-rest-in-a-struggle-against-difficulties-and-when-they-have/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [“Talking to Reva about misery was insufferable. 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In the first place, if you've any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/so-you-think-that-you-re-a-failure-do-you-well-you-probably-are-what/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [We've been insufferable friends for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-ace/we-ve-been-insufferable-friends-for-years/) [Jane Ace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-ace/) > [Sir, the slowness of genius is hard to bear, but the slowness of mediocrity is insufferable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-thomas-buckle/sir-the-slowness-of-genius-is-hard-to-bear-but-the-slowness-of/) [Henry Thomas Buckle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-thomas-buckle/) > [My limitations make space for the gifts of other people. Without the grace of our limitations we would be isolated, dry, and insufferable creatures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-chittister/my-limitations-make-space-for-the-gifts-of-other-people-without-the/) [Joan D. Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/) > [In the history of man it has been very generally the case that when evils have grown insufferable they have touched the point of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/in-the-history-of-man-it-has-been-very-generally-the-case-that-when/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [When you're "East Coast" person, you are so insufferable, and you have no idea. And I was. One, because I was miserable, and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/when-you-re-east-coast-person-you-are-so-insufferable-and-you-have-no/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [He referred to me as an 'insufferable puffed-up prat'. This is a bit rich coming from a man who actually married his own mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-morrissey/he-referred-to-me-as-an-insufferable-puffed-up-prat-this-is-a-bit/) [Steven Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-morrissey/) ## More by Margaret Westhaven > [“It might not be so unpleasant, you know, to do me one or two favours in exchange for becoming a famous authoress.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-westhaven/it-might-not-be-so-unpleasant-you-know-to-do-me-one-or-two-favours-in/) [Margaret Westhaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-westhaven/) > [“Was tomorrow going to see the end of her long-guarded virginity?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-westhaven/was-tomorrow-going-to-see-the-end-of-her-long-guarded-virginity/) [Margaret Westhaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-westhaven/) > [“The real world isn't like one of those lending library novels that you ladies read--and write--so avidly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-westhaven/the-real-world-isn-t-like-one-of-those-lending-library-novels-that/) [Margaret Westhaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-westhaven/) > [“It's a simple domestic tale, about a girl who has problems getting married, and how she deals with her relations and friends. 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As...as the hero.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-westhaven/it-would-seem-that-whoever-did-write-this-book-knows-you-very-well/) [Margaret Westhaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-westhaven/) > [“I recall how I suspected at the time that my young friend was indulging in her first bout of calf love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-westhaven/i-recall-how-i-suspected-at-the-time-that-my-young-friend-was/) [Margaret Westhaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-westhaven/) > [“...Great-Uncle Powell, an archaeologist, had spent most of his time digging about in foreign parts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-westhaven/great-uncle-powell-an-archaeologist-had-spent-most-of-his-time/) [Margaret Westhaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-westhaven/) > [“...ever since she had read the girl's novel, a piece of artistry that struck her as wish-fulfilment at its most blatant...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-westhaven/ever-since-she-had-read-the-girl-s-novel-a-piece-of-artistry-that/) [Margaret Westhaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-westhaven/) > [“I believe that books must go through a fairly slow birthing process...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-westhaven/i-believe-that-books-must-go-through-a-fairly-slow-birthing-process/) [Margaret Westhaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-westhaven/) > [“I swear, Papa, I'd give my virtue if it would get my novels published,' she exclaimed in vexation. 'I'm certain we've tried everything else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-westhaven/i-swear-papa-i-d-give-my-virtue-if-it-would-get-my-novels-published/) [Margaret Westhaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-westhaven/) > [“What do you say to furthering our cousinly relationship by a drive in the Park this afternoon?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-westhaven/what-do-you-say-to-furthering-our-cousinly-relationship-by-a-drive-in/) [Margaret Westhaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-westhaven/) [Explore all 12 Margaret Westhaven quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-westhaven/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) [Christopher K. Krebs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-k-krebs/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) [Markus Herz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-herz/) > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Really, the insufferable conceit of the man. 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