--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ugly and ungainly. The least dependable…" description: "\"“Ugly and ungainly. The least dependable creature you ever met. Just when you think you understand her, she changes. If only I had a son,\" he said bitt..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/931/mette-ivie-harrison-38733_daughter_ugly-and-ungainly-the-least-dependable-c_1381497.jpg" --- # Ugly and ungainly. The least dependable creature you ever… ![“Ugly and ungainly. The least dependable creature you ever met. Just when you think you understand her, she changes. If only I had a son," he said bitterly. Over and over he disparaged her, and George would have thought that Beatrice would be so used to it, she could not be hurt further. But he saw…” quote by Mette Ivie Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/931/mette-ivie-harrison-38733_daughter_ugly-and-ungainly-the-least-dependable-c_1381497.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/931/mette-ivie-harrison-38733_daughter_ugly-and-ungainly-the-least-dependable-c_1381497.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/931/mette-ivie-harrison-38733_daughter_ugly-and-ungainly-the-least-dependable-c_1381497.jpg) > ““Ugly and ungainly. The least dependable creature you ever met. Just when you think you understand her, she changes. If only I had a son," he said bitterly. Over and over he disparaged her, and George would have thought that Beatrice would be so used to it, she could not be hurt further. But he saw her neck grow stiffer and stiffer.”” [Mette Ivie Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mette-ivie-harrison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character’s volatile nature makes her unpredictable, yet repeated mistreatment may numb her capacity for pain. **In simple terms:** Unpredictable people can be hardened by constant abuse. Key Takeaway Recognize and address harmful patterns in relationships. Themes psychology abuse character Mood somber thoughtful Type analytical emotional When to use this quote - literary analysis - therapy - relationship counseling Key Concepts emotional volatility resilience Questions to Reflect On - How does repeated criticism affect self‑esteem? - Can change be fostered despite past abuse? A Different Perspective The quote may oversimplify complex trauma dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Daughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daughter/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king/) [Princess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/princess/) [Unkindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unkindness/) [Verbal abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/verbal-abuse/) ## Related quotes > [“I had no respect whatsoever for the creative works of either the painter or the novelist. I thought Karabekian with his meaningless pictures had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-had-no-respect-whatsoever-for-the-creative-works-of-either-the/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“I thought Beatrice Keedsler had joined hands with other old-fashioned storytellers to make people believe that life had leading characters, minor characters, significant details,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-thought-beatrice-keedsler-had-joined-hands-with-other-old-fashioned/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“This was not part of his plan. Detective work and ungainly romance did not work well together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-cody/this-was-not-part-of-his-plan-detective-work-and-ungainly-romance-did/) [Matthew Cody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-cody/) > [Those who are compelled to paint by force, without being in the necessary mood, can produce only ungainly works, because this profession requires an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/titian/those-who-are-compelled-to-paint-by-force-without-being-in-the/) [Titian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/titian/) > [“Julia was a tall, ungainly girl, much taller than Gordon, with a thin face and a neck just a little too long - one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/julia-was-a-tall-ungainly-girl-much-taller-than-gordon-with-a-thin/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“Why do fathers look ungainly in their daughter's bedrooms? Like mythical beasts wandered in from the forest of another world?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-jacob/why-do-fathers-look-ungainly-in-their-daughter-s-bedrooms-like/) [Mira Jacob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-jacob/) > [I'm quite ungainly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-taylor/i-m-quite-ungainly/) [Ellie Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-taylor/) > [ \[Townies\] was a huge cast. It was a bit ungainly, I think with 12 regular characters they had to keep writing for. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/townies-was-a-huge-cast-it-was-a-bit-ungainly-i-think-with-12-regular/) [Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/) > [“I no longer believe in love," she said bitterly. "When people claim to have lost their heart, it's usually only their wits that have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-prange/i-no-longer-believe-in-love-she-said-bitterly-when-people-claim-to/) [Peter Prange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-prange/) > [Oh, yes, she's unusual!' he said bitterly. 'She blurts our whatever may come into her head;she tumbles from one outrageous escapade into another;she's happier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/oh-yes-she-s-unusual-he-said-bitterly-she-blurts-our-whatever-may/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“That's it," he said bitterly. "Cry, Cassie. Cry for her. Cry for all the children. They can't hear you and they can't see you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/that-s-it-he-said-bitterly-cry-cassie-cry-for-her-cry-for-all-the/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [Do not do that again," he said stiffly. "Don't kiss me back then," I retorted. He stared at me for what seemed like forever.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/do-not-do-that-again-he-said-stiffly-don-t-kiss-me-back-then-i/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“Be good, Gaia,” Capt. Grey told her, his voice grave. She still refused to look at him, but she could feel the heated flush…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caragh-m-o-brien/be-good-gaia-capt-grey-told-her-his-voice-grave-she-still-refused-to/) [Caragh M. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caragh-m-o-brien/) > [“Let me give you a bit of advice.' the girl said bitterly, 'from one working girl to another; life isn't easy, no matter where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/let-me-give-you-a-bit-of-advice-the-girl-said-bitterly-from-one/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [A million years of evolution, Eric said bitterly, and what are we? Animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/a-million-years-of-evolution-eric-said-bitterly-and-what-are-we/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) ## More by Mette Ivie Harrison > [“George's hand lifted and fell away again. It seemed an insult to imply that anything so small as a touch could stop the raw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mette-ivie-harrison/george-s-hand-lifted-and-fell-away-again-it-seemed-an-insult-to-imply/) [Mette Ivie Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mette-ivie-harrison/) > [“A nod at Beatrice who held absolutely still. "She said she would come with me. She insisted on it. She stamped her little foot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mette-ivie-harrison/a-nod-at-beatrice-who-held-absolutely-still-she-said-she-would-come/) [Mette Ivie Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mette-ivie-harrison/) > [“Your name?" George asked him directly. He had probably seen the man a dozen times before yet did not know anything about him. King…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mette-ivie-harrison/your-name-george-asked-him-directly-he-had-probably-seen-the-man-a/) [Mette Ivie Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mette-ivie-harrison/) > [“You will find yourself, as he did. But that will not mean it is easy. There are few things easy in life that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mette-ivie-harrison/you-will-find-yourself-as-he-did-but-that-will-not-mean-it-is-easy/) [Mette Ivie Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mette-ivie-harrison/) > [“Be classy, if you must say anything at all. I think silence is very classy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mette-ivie-harrison/be-classy-if-you-must-say-anything-at-all-i-think-silence-is-very/) [Mette Ivie Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mette-ivie-harrison/) > [“George stared at the dove. What would she say if she could speak to him? What would she wish for, for her father? For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mette-ivie-harrison/george-stared-at-the-dove-what-would-she-say-if-she-could-speak-to/) [Mette Ivie Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mette-ivie-harrison/) > [“George was full of hatred. Of his own weakness and stupidity, of his magic, of the stubbornness and the pride of Beatrice and Marit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mette-ivie-harrison/george-was-full-of-hatred-of-his-own-weakness-and-stupidity-of-his/) [Mette Ivie Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mette-ivie-harrison/) > [“George put his hand on top of Beatrice's and felt the warmth of both the woman and her hound pulsing through his fingers. "Just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mette-ivie-harrison/george-put-his-hand-on-top-of-beatrice-s-and-felt-the-warmth-of-both/) [Mette Ivie Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mette-ivie-harrison/) > [“A story is not always a lie," said Tristan. "Some stories are truer than truth." Truer than truth? That sounded like something liars made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mette-ivie-harrison/a-story-is-not-always-a-lie-said-tristan-some-stories-are-truer-than/) [Mette Ivie Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mette-ivie-harrison/) > [“All living things have an obligation to live as best they can, no matter what pain comes to them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mette-ivie-harrison/all-living-things-have-an-obligation-to-live-as-best-they-can-no/) [Mette Ivie Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mette-ivie-harrison/) [Explore all 11 Mette Ivie Harrison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mette-ivie-harrison/) ## More Daughter quotes > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [I do have opinions. Fortunately, I neither Twitter nor Facebook. My daughter forbids me to go on social media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-lipman/i-do-have-opinions-fortunately-i-neither-twitter-nor-facebook-my/) [Maureen Lipman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-lipman/) > [I'm not going to pretend that bad things don't happen. I just hope my daughter has enough understanding that when they do, just give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-krasinski/i-m-not-going-to-pretend-that-bad-things-don-t-happen-i-just-hope-my/) [John Krasinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-krasinski/) > [I'm the daughter of a Kenyan Catholic father and a Mauritian Hindu mother, and I have a Jewish husband who was born in South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suella-braverman/i-m-the-daughter-of-a-kenyan-catholic-father-and-a-mauritian-hindu/) [Suella Braverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suella-braverman/) > [My idea for 'BoneMan's Daughters' came from the loss of my own daughter when she left home to live with a monster at age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/my-idea-for-boneman-s-daughters-came-from-the-loss-of-my-own-daughter/) [Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/) > [As a new mother, you're so vulnerable and make mistakes all the time. I guess there's more pressure when you're in the public eye,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-marais/as-a-new-mother-you-re-so-vulnerable-and-make-mistakes-all-the-time-i/) [Jessica Marais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-marais/) > [I'm the daughter of a sister whose the mother of a brother who's the brother of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/i-m-the-daughter-of-a-sister-whose-the-mother-of-a-brother-who-s-the/) [Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/) > [My oldest daughter got married, she had a wedding in Hawaii and a reception in Nashville, and in between I had a Cup date…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-trotz/my-oldest-daughter-got-married-she-had-a-wedding-in-hawaii-and-a/) [Barry Trotz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-trotz/) > [Do you think that was kind? Do you think it was godlike? What would you think of a physician, if a woman came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-h-gardener/do-you-think-that-was-kind-do-you-think-it-was-godlike-what-would-you/) [Helen H. Gardener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-h-gardener/) > [There was an Old Man of Messina, Whose daughter was named Opsibeena; She wore a small wig, and rode out on a pig, To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/there-was-an-old-man-of-messina-whose-daughter-was-named-opsibeena/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [I think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we're supposed to make. We waste so much time making decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-think-most-of-us-are-raised-with-preconceived-notions-of-the/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. Just like it was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/there-was-no-mistake-in-us-making-abortion-legal-and-available-on/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [I think about my daughter when I'm doing stuff, and I want to see it through her eyes, and I want her to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rzeznik/i-think-about-my-daughter-when-i-m-doing-stuff-and-i-want-to-see-it/) [John Rzeznik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rzeznik/) > [My wife and daughters work. My campaign manager in 2005 was a working mother. I appointed 5 women to my senior staff as Attorney General.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mcdonnell/my-wife-and-daughters-work-my-campaign-manager-in-2005-was-a-working/) [Bob McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mcdonnell/) > [“The atheist joined his hands. It wasn't against the Gods. He smiled, with his hands folded, saw his daughter's in-laws approaching near.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhavik-sarkhedi/the-atheist-joined-his-hands-it-wasn-t-against-the-gods-he-smiled/) [Bhavik Sarkhedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhavik-sarkhedi/) [Browse all 4,806 Daughter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daughter/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Ugly and ungainly. The least dependable creature you ever met. Just when you think you understand her, she changes. If only I had a son,\" he said bitterly. Over and over he disparaged her, and George would have thought that Beatrice would be so used to it, she could not be hurt further. 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