--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In dress, habits, manners, provincialism…" description: "\"In dress, habits, manners, provincialism, routine and narrowness, he acquired that charming insolence, that irritating completeness, that sophisticated..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9be/o-henry-3281_charming_in-dress-habits-manners-provincialism-ro_638691.jpg" --- # In dress, habits, manners, provincialism, routine and… ![“In dress, habits, manners, provincialism, routine and narrowness, he acquired that charming insolence, that irritating completeness, that sophisticated crassness, that overbalanced poise that makes the Manhattan gentleman so delightfully small in its greatness.” quote by O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9be/o-henry-3281_charming_in-dress-habits-manners-provincialism-ro_638691.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9be/o-henry-3281_charming_in-dress-habits-manners-provincialism-ro_638691.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9be/o-henry-3281_charming_in-dress-habits-manners-provincialism-ro_638691.jpg) > “In dress, habits, manners, provincialism, routine and narrowness, he acquired that charming insolence, that irritating completeness, that sophisticated crassness, that overbalanced poise that makes the Manhattan gentleman so delightfully small in its greatness.” [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He describes a Manhattan gentleman whose blend of confidence and refinement makes him both impressive and modest. **In simple terms:** A stylish man can be both bold and humble. Key Takeaway Embrace confidence without arrogance. Themes confidence humility urbanity Mood wry observational light‑hearted Type literary character study When to use this quote - business meetings - social gatherings - first impressions - networking Key Concepts social class self‑presentation paradox Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance confidence with humility? - When does confidence become arrogance? A Different Perspective His “overbalanced poise” may mask insecurity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Charming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charming/) [Charming Insolence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charming-insolence-5132364/) [Completeness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/completeness/) [Dresses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dresses/) [Gentleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentleman/) [Gentleman Delightfully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentleman-delightfully-5132366/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Insolence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insolence/) [Irritating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irritating/) [Manhattan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manhattan/) [Manhattan Gentleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manhattan-gentleman-5132365/) [Manners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manners/) [Manners Provincialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manners-provincialism-5132367/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [Poise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poise/) [Provincialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/provincialism/) [Routine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/routine/) [Sophisticated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sophisticated/) [Sophisticated Crassness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sophisticated-crassness-5132363/) ## Related quotes > [The diversity of India cannot thrive on facile attempts to create the homogeneous category of "Indian." Nor can it thrive on dubious attempts to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nyla-ali-khan/the-diversity-of-india-cannot-thrive-on-facile-attempts-to-create-the/) [Nyla Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nyla-ali-khan/) > [In the last analysis, provincialism is your belief in yourself, in your neighborhood, in your reality. It is patriotism without belligerence. Convincing cases have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-weaver/in-the-last-analysis-provincialism-is-your-belief-in-yourself-in-your/) [Richard M. Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-weaver/) > [By challenging anthropocentricism and temporal provincialism, science fiction throws open the whole of civilization and its premises to constructive criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-toffler/by-challenging-anthropocentricism-and-temporal-provincialism-science/) [Alvin Toffler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-toffler/) > [How can it fail to smash and shatter the petty provincialism and narrow nantionalism ... making of this world a tragic mosaic of hostility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-trippe/how-can-it-fail-to-smash-and-shatter-the-petty-provincialism-and/) [Juan Trippe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-trippe/) > [“Parochialism and provincialism are direct opposites. A provincial is always trying to live by other people's loves, but a parochial is self-sufficient.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-kavanagh/parochialism-and-provincialism-are-direct-opposites-a-provincial-is/) [Patrick Kavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-kavanagh/) > [“I feel so sorry for anyone who misses the experience of history, the horizons of history. We think little of those who, given the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mccullough/i-feel-so-sorry-for-anyone-who-misses-the-experience-of-history-the/) [David G. McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mccullough/) > [The American has no language, he has a dialect, slang, provincialism, accent and so forth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/the-american-has-no-language-he-has-a-dialect-slang-provincialism/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [Narrow-minded provincialism: Sad to say but true -- I am more interested in the mountain lions of Utah, the wild pigs of Arizona, than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/narrow-minded-provincialism-sad-to-say-but-true-i-am-more-interested/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [Imagination has to do with one's awareness of the reality of other people as well as of one's own reality. Imagination is a bridge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-fox/imagination-has-to-do-with-one-s-awareness-of-the-reality-of-other/) [Paula Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-fox/) > [“Roosevelt loved the subtleties of human relations...He was sensitive to nuances in a way that Harry Truman never was and never would be. Truman,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/roosevelt-loved-the-subtleties-of-human-relations-he-was-sensitive-to/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [A brilliant inquiry into the contemporary Iranian predicament and what it means for the world. At a time when all too many of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afshin-molavi/a-brilliant-inquiry-into-the-contemporary-iranian-predicament-and/) [Afshin Molavi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afshin-molavi/) > [What is Milan's character? Let's not be closed in by our provincialism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franca-sozzani/what-is-milan-s-character-let-s-not-be-closed-in-by-our-provincialism/) [Franca Sozzani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franca-sozzani/) > [“The true aim of literary studies is to lift the student out of his provincialism by making him ‘the spectator’, if not of all,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/the-true-aim-of-literary-studies-is-to-lift-the-student-out-of-his/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [I think provincialism is an endemic characteristic with mankind, I think everybody everywhere is provincial, but it is particularly striking with Texans, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/i-think-provincialism-is-an-endemic-characteristic-with-mankind-i/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [“The illusion that freedom is the prerogative of one's own particular race is fairly widespread.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/the-illusion-that-freedom-is-the-prerogative-of-one-s-own-particular/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) ## More by O. Henry > [He seemed to be made of sunshine and blood-red tissue and clear weather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/he-seemed-to-be-made-of-sunshine-and-blood-red-tissue-and-clear/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [My advice to you, if you should ever be in a hold up, is to line up with the cowards and save your bravery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/my-advice-to-you-if-you-should-ever-be-in-a-hold-up-is-to-line-up/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [“It did not exactly beggar description, but it certainly had that word on the lookout for the mendicancy squad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/it-did-not-exactly-beggar-description-but-it-certainly-had-that-word/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [Fortune is a prize to be won. Adventure is the road to it. Chance is what may lurk in the shadows at the roadside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/fortune-is-a-prize-to-be-won-adventure-is-the-road-to-it-chance-is/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [She plucked from my lapel the invisible strand of lint (the universal act of woman to proclaim ownership).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/she-plucked-from-my-lapel-the-invisible-strand-of-lint-the-universal/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [There is no well defined boundary line between honesty and dishonesty. The frontiers of one blend with the outside limits of the other, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/there-is-no-well-defined-boundary-line-between-honesty-and-dishonesty/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [All great men have declared that they owe their sucess to the aid and encouragement of some brilliant woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/all-great-men-have-declared-that-they-owe-their-sucess-to-the-aid-and/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [Those whom we first love we seldom marry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/those-whom-we-first-love-we-seldom-marry/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [Young artists must pave their way to Art by drawing pictures for magazine stories that young authors write to pave their way to Literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/young-artists-must-pave-their-way-to-art-by-drawing-pictures-for/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [A good story is like a bitter pill, with the sugar coating inside of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/a-good-story-is-like-a-bitter-pill-with-the-sugar-coating-inside-of-it/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [I've got some of my best yarns from park benches, lamp posts and newspaper stands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/i-ve-got-some-of-my-best-yarns-from-park-benches-lamp-posts-and/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [There are stories in everything. I've got some of my best yarns from park benches, lampposts, and newspaper stands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/there-are-stories-in-everything-i-ve-got-some-of-my-best-yarns-from/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [I never have time to read now. I did all my reading before I was twenty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/i-never-have-time-to-read-now-i-did-all-my-reading-before-i-was-twenty/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [Bride knoweth bride at the glance of an eye. And between them swiftly passes comfort and meaning in a language that man and widows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/bride-knoweth-bride-at-the-glance-of-an-eye-and-between-them-swiftly/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [No friendship is an accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/no-friendship-is-an-accident/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) [Explore all 135 O. Henry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) ## More Charming quotes > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [Anybody can be Prince Charming one day a year, with the dinner and the flowers and all that. But you know what impresses me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-howard/anybody-can-be-prince-charming-one-day-a-year-with-the-dinner-and-the/) [Ryan Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-howard/) > [Ninety-eight percent of the things that come out of my mouth are intended to be harmless or even charming. They're not ever intended to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/ninety-eight-percent-of-the-things-that-come-out-of-my-mouth-are/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [Falling out of love is chiefly a matter of forgetting how charming someone is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/falling-out-of-love-is-chiefly-a-matter-of-forgetting-how-charming/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [You have to be nicer to me," I said. Again he laughed. "What? I'm the King of nice. What are you talking about?" "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-myracle/you-have-to-be-nicer-to-me-i-said-again-he-laughed-what-i-m-the-king/) [Lauren Myracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-myracle/) > [Everything was so designed by Hannibal to break down Will in the first season, until Will's sanity became questionable. It's so much easier to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-fuller/everything-was-so-designed-by-hannibal-to-break-down-will-in-the/) [Bryan Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-fuller/) > [Old Etonians are the most charming people in the world. It's not just the analytic ability and the great education; there is a really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-wade/old-etonians-are-the-most-charming-people-in-the-world-it-s-not-just/) [Laura Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-wade/) > [My beloved friend - one of the most unique and charming personalities of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/my-beloved-friend-one-of-the-most-unique-and-charming-personalities/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [Wouldn’t that make a charming epitaph? Here lies Cat. Killed not by fang, but Ferragamos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/wouldn-t-that-make-a-charming-epitaph-here-lies-cat-killed-not-by/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Sir, money, money, the most charming of all things; money, which will say more in one moment than the most elegant lover can in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/sir-money-money-the-most-charming-of-all-things-money-which-will-say/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [Charming Alnaschar visions! it is the happy privilege of youth to construct you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/charming-alnaschar-visions-it-is-the-happy-privilege-of-youth-to/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [I wasn‘t—" I began. I didn‘t—" He began. How charming," V‘lane cut us off. His voice arrived before he did. "The very portrait of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/i-wasn-t-i-began-i-didn-t-he-began-how-charming-v-lane-cut-us-off-his/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Lillian Gish may be a charming person, but she is not Ophelia. She comes on stage as if she had been sent for to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrs-patrick-campbell/lillian-gish-may-be-a-charming-person-but-she-is-not-ophelia-she/) [Mrs. Patrick Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mrs-patrick-campbell/) > [There are likable characters in prison. Sometimes the worst criminals are also some of the most charming people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taryn-manning/there-are-likable-characters-in-prison-sometimes-the-worst-criminals/) [Taryn Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taryn-manning/) > [The secular mind and heart, however gifted and personally charming, has no place in the leadership of the church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders/the-secular-mind-and-heart-however-gifted-and-personally-charming-has/) [J. Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders/) [Browse all 808 Charming quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charming/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In dress, habits, manners, provincialism, routine and narrowness, he acquired that charming insolence, that irritating completeness, that sophisticated crassness, that overbalanced poise that makes the Manhattan gentleman so delightfully small in its greatness.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "O. 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