--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Paltry affectation, strained allusions…" description: "\"Paltry affectation, strained allusions, and disgusting finery are easily attained by those who choose to wear them; they are but too frequently the bad..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/oliver-goldsmith-772_allusion_paltry-affectation-strained-allusions-an_2732386.png" --- # Paltry affectation, strained allusions, and disgusting… ![“Paltry affectation, strained allusions, and disgusting finery are easily attained by those who choose to wear them; they are but too frequently the badges of ignorance or of stupidity, whenever it would endeavor to please.” quote by Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/oliver-goldsmith-772_allusion_paltry-affectation-strained-allusions-an_2732386.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/oliver-goldsmith-772_allusion_paltry-affectation-strained-allusions-an_2732386.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/oliver-goldsmith-772_allusion_paltry-affectation-strained-allusions-an_2732386.png) > “Paltry affectation, strained allusions, and disgusting finery are easily attained by those who choose to wear them; they are but too frequently the badges of ignorance or of stupidity, whenever it would endeavor to please.” [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Critique of pretentiousness, linking it to ignorance and stupidity. **In simple terms:** Pretentiousness shows ignorance. Key Takeaway Avoid superficiality. Themes social critique vanity ignorance stupidity Mood skeptical reflective Type critical philosophical When to use this quote - fashion trends - public speaking - media analysis Key Concepts cultural commentary self‑awareness Questions to Reflect On - Why do people adopt pretentious habits? - How can authenticity be encouraged? A Different Perspective Sometimes style reflects substance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allusion/) [Endeavor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endeavor/) [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Stupidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupidity/) ## Related quotes > [Life has been compared to a race, but the allusion improves by observing, that the most swift are usually the least manageable and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/life-has-been-compared-to-a-race-but-the-allusion-improves-by/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Fine declamation does not consist in flowery periods, delicate allusions of musical cadences, but in a plain, open, loose style, where the periods are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/fine-declamation-does-not-consist-in-flowery-periods-delicate/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Hip-hop is rich in musical allusion. 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Supple sentences, with first and second meanings and overtones beyond, outrageous challenges with cleverly planned slip-points, rebuttals of elegant brevity; deceptions and guiles,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-vance/conversation-supple-sentences-with-first-and-second-meanings-and/) [Jack Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-vance/) > [He was extremely reticent in his religious sentiments, at least in all that he wrote. Allusions to his belief are rarely, if ever, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-coit-gilman/he-was-extremely-reticent-in-his-religious-sentiments-at-least-in-all/) Daniel Coit Gilman > [“So,' I said, partly to Magda, partly to myself, 'Rema left Argentina with this An-a-to-le person.' 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The abstraction of many moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-ailey/everything-in-dancing-is-style-allusion-the-essence-of-many-thoughts/) [Alvin Ailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-ailey/) ## More by Oliver Goldsmith > [The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found, at last, to be of our own producing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-fortunate-circumstances-of-our-lives-are-generally-found-at-last/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [How happy he who crowns in shades like these, A youth of labour with an age of ease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/how-happy-he-who-crowns-in-shades-like-these-a-youth-of-labour-with/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [One man is born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and the other with a wooden ladle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/one-man-is-born-with-a-silver-spoon-in-his-mouth-and-the-other-with-a/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [He cast off his friends as a huntsman his pack, For he knew when he pleas'd he could whistle them back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/he-cast-off-his-friends-as-a-huntsman-his-pack-for-he-knew-when-he/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Even children follow'd with endearing wile, And pluck'd his gown, to share the good man's smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/even-children-follow-d-with-endearing-wile-and-pluck-d-his-gown-to/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [The premises being thus settled, I proceed to observe that the concatenation of self-existence, proceeding in a reciprocal duplicate ratio, naturally produces a problematical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-premises-being-thus-settled-i-proceed-to-observe-that-the/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Truth from his lips prevailed with double sway, and fools, who came to scoff, remained to pray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/truth-from-his-lips-prevailed-with-double-sway-and-fools-who-came-to/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Politics resemble religion; attempting to divest either of ceremony is the most certain mode of bringing either into contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/politics-resemble-religion-attempting-to-divest-either-of-ceremony-is/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [To what fortuitous occurrence do we not owe every pleasure and convenience of our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/to-what-fortuitous-occurrence-do-we-not-owe-every-pleasure-and/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Every acknowledgment of gratitude is a circumstance of humiliation; and some are found to submit to frequent mortifications of this kind, proclaiming what obligations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/every-acknowledgment-of-gratitude-is-a-circumstance-of-humiliation/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [ \[T\]here are depths of thousands of miles which are hidden from our inquiry. The only tidings we have from those unfathomable regions are by… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/t-here-are-depths-of-thousands-of-miles-which-are-hidden-from-our/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Like the bee, we should make our industry our amusement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/like-the-bee-we-should-make-our-industry-our-amusement/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Age, that lessens the enjoyment of life, increases our desire of living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/age-that-lessens-the-enjoyment-of-life-increases-our-desire-of-living/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Thus let me hold thee to my heart, And every care resign: And we shall never, never part, My life-my all that's mine!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/thus-let-me-hold-thee-to-my-heart-and-every-care-resign-and-we-shall/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [Here lies David Garrick, describe me who can, An abridgment of all that was pleasant in man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/here-lies-david-garrick-describe-me-who-can-an-abridgment-of-all-that/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) [Explore all 375 Oliver Goldsmith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) ## More Allusion quotes > [Everything in dancing is style, allusion, the essence of many thoughts and feelings. 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Over time, they become charged with inference and allusion and, deployed effectively, they have the power to change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ephraim-mirvis/words-make-a-world-of-difference-over-time-they-become-charged-with/) [Ephraim Mirvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ephraim-mirvis/) > [The classical allusions and the Platonic disquisitions on beauty are no longer a form of cover, but integral to Aschenbach's complex sexuality. 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