--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is something, I thought, when a king…" description: "\"It is something, I thought, when a king can put a courtesan to the blush.\" — Mary Renault" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cf/mary-renault-7614_blush_it-is-something-i-thought-when-a-king-ca_821197.jpg" --- # It is something, I thought, when a king can put a… ![“It is something, I thought, when a king can put a courtesan to the blush.” quote by Mary Renault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cf/mary-renault-7614_blush_it-is-something-i-thought-when-a-king-ca_821197.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cf/mary-renault-7614_blush_it-is-something-i-thought-when-a-king-ca_821197.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cf/mary-renault-7614_blush_it-is-something-i-thought-when-a-king-ca_821197.jpg) > “It is something, I thought, when a king can put a courtesan to the blush.” [Mary Renault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-renault/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A king feels embarrassed when his power is challenged by a courtesan's influence, revealing vulnerability in authority. **In simple terms:** Power can be humbled by unexpected sources. Key Takeaway Recognize humility in leadership. Themes humility power vulnerability Mood reflective introspective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - political intrigue - personal relationships - court dynamics Key Concepts ego courtly love status Questions to Reflect On - How does unexpected admiration affect one's sense of control? - Can vulnerability be a strength? A Different Perspective Even kings can feel shame when faced with unexpected allure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blush/) [Courtesan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courtesan/) [Courtesan Blush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courtesan-blush-475228/) [Courtesans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courtesans/) [King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king/) [King Courtesan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king-courtesan-475229/) [Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kings/) [Thought King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-king-475230/) ## Related quotes > [Public opinion is a courtesan, whom we seek to please without respecting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-antoine-petit-senn/public-opinion-is-a-courtesan-whom-we-seek-to-please-without/) [Jean Antoine Petit-Senn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-antoine-petit-senn/) > [If I had to fall from Cassiel's grace, at least I know it took a courtesan worthy of Kings to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-carey/if-i-had-to-fall-from-cassiel-s-grace-at-least-i-know-it-took-a/) [Jacqueline Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-carey/) > [You have a curious way of arousing one's imagination, stimulating all one's nerves, and making one's pulses beat faster. You put an aureole on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/you-have-a-curious-way-of-arousing-one-s-imagination-stimulating-all/) [Leopold von Sacher-Masoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/) > [Glory is sometimes a low courtesan who on the road entices many who did not think of her. They are astonished to obtain favors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-14th-prince-of-ligne/glory-is-sometimes-a-low-courtesan-who-on-the-road-entices-many-who/) [Michel, 14th Prince of Ligne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-14th-prince-of-ligne/) > [I'll live as a courtesan, not as a woman. I'll embrace any man that comes my way. It's not hard giving your body and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hwang-jini/i-ll-live-as-a-courtesan-not-as-a-woman-i-ll-embrace-any-man-that/) [Hwang Jini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hwang-jini/) > [She had the underwear of a thirteen-year-old, as well, he thought. He glanced back at her. But the shoes of a courtesan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-stuart/she-had-the-underwear-of-a-thirteen-year-old-as-well-he-thought-he/) [Anne Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-stuart/) > [Death is as unexpected in his caprice as a courtesan in her disdain; but death is truer – Death has never forsaken any man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/death-is-as-unexpected-in-his-caprice-as-a-courtesan-in-her-disdain/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [How is it that one woman is…enough…for three men?” “I don’t know.” “She must be a very talented courtesan.” “Callie.” “Well, that was what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-maclean/how-is-it-that-one-woman-is-enough-for-three-men-i-don-t-know-she/) [Sarah MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-maclean/) > [Mother went out again tonight, looking like a courtesan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kennedy-toole/mother-went-out-again-tonight-looking-like-a-courtesan/) [John Kennedy Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kennedy-toole/) > [“Finding out that you are not your lover’s only lover hurts, but not as much as discovering that you are the side chick ……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/finding-out-that-you-are-not-your-lover-s-only-lover-hurts-but-not-as/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [I thought 'The King's Speech' was great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-haggis/i-thought-the-king-s-speech-was-great/) [Paul Haggis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-haggis/) > [I never thought of myself as a king. People really want you to be their deity. They forget the fact that you are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gutfreund/i-never-thought-of-myself-as-a-king-people-really-want-you-to-be/) [John Gutfreund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gutfreund/) > [I thought that being king meant I didn't have to kill people myself. I see know that was another misconception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-whalen-turner/i-thought-that-being-king-meant-i-didn-t-have-to-kill-people-myself-i/) [Megan Whalen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-whalen-turner/) > [“Ah,' thought the king sadly, shrugging his shoulders, "I see clearly that if one has a crazy wife, one cannot avoid being a fool.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/ah-thought-the-king-sadly-shrugging-his-shoulders-i-see-clearly-that/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [“The dresses are indecent," she said stiffly, the rich silk flowing against her body like water. "But pretty." She shot him another fulminating glance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-campbell/the-dresses-are-indecent-she-said-stiffly-the-rich-silk-flowing/) [Anna Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-campbell/) ## More by Mary Renault > [You can make an audience see nearly anything, if you yourself believe in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-renault/you-can-make-an-audience-see-nearly-anything-if-you-yourself-believe/) [Mary Renault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-renault/) > [“I looked at him, tipping down the coarse wine like a man who expects to put up with worse. I felt I was looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-renault/i-looked-at-him-tipping-down-the-coarse-wine-like-a-man-who-expects/) [Mary Renault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-renault/) > [“For I had felt too much and reasoned too little, hearing what I was ready to hear, not what had been said. There”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-renault/for-i-had-felt-too-much-and-reasoned-too-little-hearing-what-i-was/) [Mary Renault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-renault/) > [“Go in peace," I said to him; "bear no ill-will to me, for Necessity yields to no man: and do not complain of me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-renault/go-in-peace-i-said-to-him-bear-no-ill-will-to-me-for-necessity-yields/) [Mary Renault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-renault/) > [There is only one kind of shock worse than the totally unexpected: the expected for which one has refused to prepare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-renault/there-is-only-one-kind-of-shock-worse-than-the-totally-unexpected-the/) [Mary Renault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-renault/) > [Longing performs all things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-renault/longing-performs-all-things/) [Mary Renault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-renault/) > [A man is at his youngest when he thinks he is a man, not yet realizing that his actions must show it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-renault/a-man-is-at-his-youngest-when-he-thinks-he-is-a-man-not-yet-realizing/) [Mary Renault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-renault/) > [“You mustn't get so upset about what you feel, Spud. No one's a hundred per cent consistent all the time. We might like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-renault/you-mustn-t-get-so-upset-about-what-you-feel-spud-no-one-s-a-hundred/) [Mary Renault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-renault/) > [“It is better to believe in men too rashly, and regret, than believe too meanly. Men could be more than they are, if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-renault/it-is-better-to-believe-in-men-too-rashly-and-regret-than-believe-too/) [Mary Renault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-renault/) > [“Hephaistion had known for many ages that if a god should offer him one gift in all his lifetime, he would choose this. Joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-renault/hephaistion-had-known-for-many-ages-that-if-a-god-should-offer-him/) [Mary Renault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-renault/) > [“It is the mark of little men to like only what they know; one step beyond, and they feel the black cold of chaos.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-renault/it-is-the-mark-of-little-men-to-like-only-what-they-know-one-step/) [Mary Renault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-renault/) > [“His mouth felt cold to mine ; he neither opened his eyes, nor spoke, nor moved. I said in my heart, "Too late I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-renault/his-mouth-felt-cold-to-mine-he-neither-opened-his-eyes-nor-spoke-nor/) [Mary Renault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-renault/) > [“Is he weeping?" said the one with the softest heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-renault/is-he-weeping-said-the-one-with-the-softest-heart/) [Mary Renault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-renault/) > [Love is a boaster at heart, who cannot hide the stolen horse without giving a glimpse of the bridle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-renault/love-is-a-boaster-at-heart-who-cannot-hide-the-stolen-horse-without/) [Mary Renault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-renault/) > [At the stair-foot Hephaistion was waiting. He happened to be there, as he happened to have a ball handy if Alexander wanted a game,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-renault/at-the-stair-foot-hephaistion-was-waiting-he-happened-to-be-there-as/) [Mary Renault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-renault/) [Explore all 89 Mary Renault quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-renault/) ## More Blush quotes > [“If I could blush, I'd be a third degree sunburn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-g-browne/if-i-could-blush-i-d-be-a-third-degree-sunburn/) [S.G. Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-g-browne/) > [“Ô, Wanderess, Wanderess When did you feel your most euphoric kiss? Was I the source of your greatest bliss?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/wanderess-wanderess-when-did-you-feel-your-most-euphoric-kiss-was-i/) [Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/) > [Full many a flower is born to blush unseen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/full-many-a-flower-is-born-to-blush-unseen/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“Why couldn't he feel things in secret like other people?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliette-rose-kerr/why-couldn-t-he-feel-things-in-secret-like-other-people/) [Juliette Rose Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliette-rose-kerr/) > [I wear makeup pretty much every day. For training, I usually do a lighter base, a lighter blush and I used the mascara and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabby-douglas/i-wear-makeup-pretty-much-every-day-for-training-i-usually-do-a/) [Gabby Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabby-douglas/) > [“Your blush confirms my suspicions. See, I am learning how to use your methods to perform interrogations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byrd-nash/your-blush-confirms-my-suspicions-see-i-am-learning-how-to-use-your/) [Byrd Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byrd-nash/) > ['Don't blush When I look at you don't stop your heart that trembles for me. Don't be afraid to give me a kiss and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-guzaldo/don-t-blush-when-i-look-at-you-don-t-stop-your-heart-that-trembles/) [Andrew Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-guzaldo/) > [I brought color to bridal. There was one whole season of blush. If you think about the bareness, the illusion (fabric), the corsets that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-wang/i-brought-color-to-bridal-there-was-one-whole-season-of-blush-if-you/) [Vera Wang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-wang/) > [“Did you know I blush purple? Jamal’s teasing me about it." "Is he reading this?" I asked, horrified. "No." "Sorry I made you blush."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-sheehan/did-you-know-i-blush-purple-jamal-s-teasing-me-about-it-is-he-reading/) [Anna Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-sheehan/) > [O shame, where is thy blush?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-shame-where-is-thy-blush/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“His blush was the color of Valentine's Day and she had to tell her heart to calm the fuck down as it started to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/his-blush-was-the-color-of-valentine-s-day-and-she-had-to-tell-her/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Not to make him blush, but any story illustrated by Mike Mignola does things that prose alone can't accomplish. The illustrations create mood and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-golden/not-to-make-him-blush-but-any-story-illustrated-by-mike-mignola-does/) [Christopher Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-golden/) > [“To think I actually talked to the boy who nearly got you killed," Ivy mutters, shuddering with disgust. "I'm so sorry I did." "It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-boyd/to-think-i-actually-talked-to-the-boy-who-nearly-got-you-killed-ivy/) [Colleen Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-boyd/) > [I blush easily. I have difficulty meeting people's eye, difficulty with public speaking, the normal afflictions of the shy, but not to a paralysing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholson-baker/i-blush-easily-i-have-difficulty-meeting-people-s-eye-difficulty-with/) [Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/) > [“I’d imagine if you called me Cherry Cheeks, it’d make me blush like a salad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-d-imagine-if-you-called-me-cherry-cheeks-it-d-make-me-blush-like-a/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) [Browse all 160 Blush quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blush/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is something, I thought, when a king can put a courtesan to the blush.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mary Renault" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-renault/it-is-something-i-thought-when-a-king-can-put-a-courtesan-to-the-blush/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Blush" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-renault/it-is-something-i-thought-when-a-king-can-put-a-courtesan-to-the-blush/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cf/mary-renault-7614_blush_it-is-something-i-thought-when-a-king-ca_821197.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cf/mary-renault-7614_blush_it-is-something-i-thought-when-a-king-ca_821197.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cf/mary-renault-7614_blush_it-is-something-i-thought-when-a-king-ca_821197.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is something, I thought, when a king can put a courtesan to the blush.” — Mary Renault", "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": "Mary Renault", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-renault/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is something, I thought, when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-renault/it-is-something-i-thought-when-a-king-can-put-a-courtesan-to-the-blush/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-renault/it-is-something-i-thought-when-a-king-can-put-a-courtesan-to-the-blush/#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 } } ] } ```