--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is a Southern gift, isn't it…" description: "\"“This is a Southern gift, isn't it - tremendous self-regard diluted with humor and modesty. That's what they mean by Southern charm, right?”\" — Michael..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/michael-cunningham-1120_charm_this-is-a-southern-gift-isn-t-it-tremend_2556927.png" --- # This is a Southern gift, isn't it - tremendous self-regard… ![“This is a Southern gift, isn't it - tremendous self-regard diluted with humor and modesty. That's what they mean by Southern charm, right?” quote by Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/michael-cunningham-1120_charm_this-is-a-southern-gift-isn-t-it-tremend_2556927.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/michael-cunningham-1120_charm_this-is-a-southern-gift-isn-t-it-tremend_2556927.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/michael-cunningham-1120_charm_this-is-a-southern-gift-isn-t-it-tremend_2556927.png) > ““This is a Southern gift, isn't it - tremendous self-regard diluted with humor and modesty. That's what they mean by Southern charm, right?”” [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A satirical observation that Southern charm blends inflated self‑importance with humor and modesty. **In simple terms:** Southern charm mixes pride, humor, and modesty. Key Takeaway Recognize the layers behind cultural stereotypes. Themes culture humor identity stereotypes Mood wry analytical Type cultural commentary satire When to use this quote - social interactions - media representation - personal branding Key Concepts self‑esteem regional identity social performance Questions to Reflect On - What does “Southern charm” reveal about regional identity? - How does humor soften self‑importance? A Different Perspective Humor can mask underlying insecurities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Charm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charm/) [Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Humor Modesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor-modesty-1572421/) [Self Regard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-regard-396409/) [Southern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/southern/) [Southern Charm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/southern-charm-1572419/) [Southern Gift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/southern-gift-1572420/) ## Related quotes > [The saying of John Peale Bishop is worth recalling, that the South excelled in two things which the French deem essential to civilization: a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-weaver/the-saying-of-john-peale-bishop-is-worth-recalling-that-the-south/) [Richard M. Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-weaver/) > [Snellville is a great city. It's a great place to grow up and live. I love it. It's very full of southern charm and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-degarmo/snellville-is-a-great-city-it-s-a-great-place-to-grow-up-and-live-i/) [Diana DeGarmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-degarmo/) > [ “\[New Orleans.\] Katrina changed everything. Life here is different, every face altered. Yet we feel and sense the landscape not only in its hurricane-leveled,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-fisher/new-orleans-katrina-changed-everything-life-here-is-different-every/) [T.J. Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-fisher/) > [Because a God who is ultimately most focused on his own glory will be about the business of restoring us, who are all broken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/because-a-god-who-is-ultimately-most-focused-on-his-own-glory-will-be/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) > [Too much self-regard has never struck me as dignified: trying to twist over my shoulder to view my own behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marge-piercy/too-much-self-regard-has-never-struck-me-as-dignified-trying-to-twist/) [Marge Piercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marge-piercy/) > [“In measured doses, mortification cleanses the soul. It's the perfect antidote for excessive self-regard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-j-bacevich/in-measured-doses-mortification-cleanses-the-soul-it-s-the-perfect/) [Andrew J. Bacevich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-j-bacevich/) > [One's worth and self-regard ought to come from individual competitive performance, not from group identity. Pride based on clan or tribal connections is atavistic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-henry-iii/one-s-worth-and-self-regard-ought-to-come-from-individual-competitive/) [William A. Henry III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-henry-iii/) > [The constant reprimands made me hyperconscious of my own performance, and so instead of getting rid of self, I had become embedded in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/the-constant-reprimands-made-me-hyperconscious-of-my-own-performance/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [Jesus comes among us, in our all division, not to instruct, comfort or inspire but to die. In doing so, He answers the sum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-coles/jesus-comes-among-us-in-our-all-division-not-to-instruct-comfort-or/) [Richard Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-coles/) > [“... deep inside you was a frantic longing to be something or someone other than you are. It is the greatest scourge a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ndor-m-rai/deep-inside-you-was-a-frantic-longing-to-be-something-or-someone/) [Sándor Márai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ndor-m-rai/) > [Masturbation is not only an expression of self-regard: it is also the natural emotional outlet of those who...have already accepted as inevitable the wide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/masturbation-is-not-only-an-expression-of-self-regard-it-is-also-the-2/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [If I give more to myself, I can ask more from myself. Self-regard isn't selfish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/if-i-give-more-to-myself-i-can-ask-more-from-myself-self-regard-isn-t/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [It's the essence of a degenerating mind periodically, to lose all sense of continuous self, and therefore any regard for what others think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/it-s-the-essence-of-a-degenerating-mind-periodically-to-lose-all/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [“People's sense of self worth is pivotal to their ability to look clearly at the hurt they've caused. The more solid one's sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/people-s-sense-of-self-worth-is-pivotal-to-their-ability-to-look/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [“Masturbation is not only an expression of self-regard: it is also the natural emotional outlet of those who, before anything has reared its ugly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/masturbation-is-not-only-an-expression-of-self-regard-it-is-also-the/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) ## More by Michael Cunningham > [“Mizzy has wandered into the garden. Carole looks contemplatively at him, says, "Lovely boy." "My wife's insanely younger brother. He's one of those kids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/mizzy-has-wandered-into-the-garden-carole-looks-contemplatively-at/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [“Zoe loved Trancas's mother. She respected her exhausted and ironic hope for rebirth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/zoe-loved-trancas-s-mother-she-respected-her-exhausted-and-ironic/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [The lives great artists live and the books they write are two very different things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/the-lives-great-artists-live-and-the-books-they-write-are-two-very/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [“How often since then has she wondered what might have happened if she'd tried to remain with him; if she’d returned Richard's kiss on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/how-often-since-then-has-she-wondered-what-might-have-happened-if-she/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [“...a full week of their mother's quiet fury over the fun they don't seem to be having and their father's dogged attempts to provide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/a-full-week-of-their-mother-s-quiet-fury-over-the-fun-they-don-t-seem/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [Oh, all you immigrants and visionaries, what do you hope to find here, who do you hope to become?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/oh-all-you-immigrants-and-visionaries-what-do-you-hope-to-find-here/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [“She wants to have baked a cake that banishes sorrow, even if only for a little while.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/she-wants-to-have-baked-a-cake-that-banishes-sorrow-even-if-only-for/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [“And yet, it gives Peter nothing. Not now. Not today. Not when he needs... more. More than this well-executed idea. More than the shark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/and-yet-it-gives-peter-nothing-not-now-not-today-not-when-he-needs/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [He insists on a version of you that is funnier, stranger, more eccentric and prfound thatn you suspect yourself to be--capable of doing more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/he-insists-on-a-version-of-you-that-is-funnier-stranger-more/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [The worst are full of passionate intensity while the best lack all conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/the-worst-are-full-of-passionate-intensity-while-the-best-lack-all/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [“And here he is, letting the massive steel street door click shut behind him, standing at the top of the three iron steps that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/and-here-he-is-letting-the-massive-steel-street-door-click-shut/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [It's the world, you live in it, even if some boy has made a fool of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/it-s-the-world-you-live-in-it-even-if-some-boy-has-made-a-fool-of-you/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [“She's had a long life. Now she's going to the Lord." "Frankly it creeps me out a little when you say things like that,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/she-s-had-a-long-life-now-she-s-going-to-the-lord-frankly-it-creeps/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [Any other vexations to report?" he asks. "I love the word 'vexations.'" "It's the 'x.' Nice to jump off a 'v' and bite into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/any-other-vexations-to-report-he-asks-i-love-the-word-vexations-it-s/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) > [Dead, we are revealed in our true dimensions, and they are surprisingly modest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/dead-we-are-revealed-in-our-true-dimensions-and-they-are-surprisingly/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) [Explore all 277 Michael Cunningham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) ## More Charm quotes > [Charm is a cunning self-forgetfulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-stead/charm-is-a-cunning-self-forgetfulness/) [Christina Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-stead/) > [Every woman thinks herself attractive; even the plainest is satisfied with the charms she deems that she possesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/every-woman-thinks-herself-attractive-even-the-plainest-is-satisfied/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Modesty is the gentle art of enhancing your charm by pretending not to be aware of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-herford/modesty-is-the-gentle-art-of-enhancing-your-charm-by-pretending-not/) [Oliver Herford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-herford/) > [Talk health. The dreary, never-changing tale Of mortal maladies is worn and stale. You cannot charm, or interest, or please By harping in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/talk-health-the-dreary-never-changing-tale-of-mortal-maladies-is-worn/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [I'm an old school guy and love the guys in the monster suits and JAWS; even though everyone makes fun of the shark I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-fessenden/i-m-an-old-school-guy-and-love-the-guys-in-the-monster-suits-and-jaws/) [Larry Fessenden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-fessenden/) > [Every woman has the instinct, the propensity to profit from her charms, and there's a lot to be said for giving oneself without love,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/every-woman-has-the-instinct-the-propensity-to-profit-from-her-charms/) [Leopold von Sacher-Masoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/) > [I don't know that I'm a free spirit or anything like that. I just have my own way of doing things. That's the charm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-schultz/i-don-t-know-that-i-m-a-free-spirit-or-anything-like-that-i-just-have/) [Dave Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-schultz/) > [In each studio there is a human being dressed in the full regalia of his myth fearing to expore a vulnerable opening, spreading not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/in-each-studio-there-is-a-human-being-dressed-in-the-full-regalia-of/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [“It's a part of life. You never know what you are going to get; you just have to be strong enough to deal with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-hill/it-s-a-part-of-life-you-never-know-what-you-are-going-to-get-you-just/) [Melissa Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-hill/) > [Even after marrying Mallika, I feel that I am her boyfriend. In fact, I believe this feeling enhances the charm and fun of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zayed-khan/even-after-marrying-mallika-i-feel-that-i-am-her-boyfriend-in-fact-i/) [Zayed Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zayed-khan/) > [Criticism even should not be without its charms. When quite devoid of all amenities, it is no longer literary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/criticism-even-should-not-be-without-its-charms-when-quite-devoid-of/) [Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/) > [“Never trust charm, it's the most powerful weapon in the devil's armory.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-gilbert/never-trust-charm-it-s-the-most-powerful-weapon-in-the-devil-s-armory/) [Anthony Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-gilbert/) > [Paul Taylor's 'Offenbach Overtures' has lots of zip and charm, and its pair of dueling soldiers in red, who end up starry-eyed about each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gottlieb/paul-taylor-s-offenbach-overtures-has-lots-of-zip-and-charm-and-its/) [Robert Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gottlieb/) > [Time's stern tide, with cold Oblivion's wave, Shall soon dissolve each fair, each fading charm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-seward/time-s-stern-tide-with-cold-oblivion-s-wave-shall-soon-dissolve-each/) [Anna Seward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-seward/) > [Washington is a city of Southern efficiency and Northern charm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/washington-is-a-city-of-southern-efficiency-and-northern-charm/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) [Browse all 1,415 Charm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charm/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“This is a Southern gift, isn't it - tremendous self-regard diluted with humor and modesty. 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