--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most humiliating thing a woman can be…" description: "\"The most humiliating thing a woman can be is a coquette.\" — Oriana Fallaci" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d1/oriana-fallaci-3082_coquette_the-most-humiliating-thing-a-woman-can-b_1509762.png" --- # The most humiliating thing a woman can be is a coquette. ![“The most humiliating thing a woman can be is a coquette.” quote by Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d1/oriana-fallaci-3082_coquette_the-most-humiliating-thing-a-woman-can-b_1509762.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d1/oriana-fallaci-3082_coquette_the-most-humiliating-thing-a-woman-can-b_1509762.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d1/oriana-fallaci-3082_coquette_the-most-humiliating-thing-a-woman-can-b_1509762.png) > “The most humiliating thing a woman can be is a coquette.” [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A woman who behaves flirtatiously to gain attention is demeaning to herself. **In simple terms:** Flirtation can be self‑degrading. Key Takeaway Avoid using charm as a shield. Themes self‑esteem gender roles authenticity Mood critical reflective Type analytical commentary When to use this quote - personal relationships - professional settings - social media - dating - public speaking Key Concepts feminist critique social performance Questions to Reflect On - How does societal pressure shape women's self‑presentation? - Is flirtation always humiliating? A Different Perspective May be seen as judgmental toward women's agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woman/) ## Related quotes > [For a woman to be at once a coquette and a bigot is more than the humblest of husbands can bear; she should mercifully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/for-a-woman-to-be-at-once-a-coquette-and-a-bigot-is-more-than-the/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [Rape is the most humiliating thing that can be done to you; it's the most vulnerable that you can be. But once I realized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-apple/rape-is-the-most-humiliating-thing-that-can-be-done-to-you-it-s-the/) [Fiona Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-apple/) > [What's the most humiliating thing? When you take someone to dinner or you cook somebody dinner and they get food poisoning. I mean, how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendi-mclendon-covey/what-s-the-most-humiliating-thing-when-you-take-someone-to-dinner-or/) [Wendi McLendon-Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendi-mclendon-covey/) > [“I'm wearing a French maid's outfit because this bunch of misogynistic homophobes thinks that the most humiliating thing you can do to a guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-henry/i-m-wearing-a-french-maid-s-outfit-because-this-bunch-of-misogynistic/) [Lisa Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-henry/) > [“Yes, but not my style of woman: I like a woman who lays herself out a little more to please us. There should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/yes-but-not-my-style-of-woman-i-like-a-woman-who-lays-herself-out-a/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [A coquette is a young lady of more beauty than sense, more accomplishments than learning, more charms not person than graces of mind, more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/a-coquette-is-a-young-lady-of-more-beauty-than-sense-more/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [In the School of Coquettes Madam Rose is a scholar,-O, they fish with all nets In the School of Coquettes! When her brooch she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-austin-dobson/in-the-school-of-coquettes-madam-rose-is-a-scholar-o-they-fish-with/) [Henry Austin Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-austin-dobson/) > [Beautiful coquettes are quacks of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/beautiful-coquettes-are-quacks-of-love/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [He who wins a thousand common hearts is entitled to some renown; but he who keeps undisputed sway over the heart of a coquette…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/he-who-wins-a-thousand-common-hearts-is-entitled-to-some-renown-but/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [dont undress my love you might find a mannequin dont undress the mannequin you might find love. shes long ago forgotten me. hes trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/dont-undress-my-love-you-might-find-a-mannequin-dont-undress-the/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [Women find it far more difficult to overcome their inclination to coquetry than to overcome their love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/women-find-it-far-more-difficult-to-overcome-their-inclination-to/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Fortune is like a coquette; if you don't run after her, she will run after you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/fortune-is-like-a-coquette-if-you-don-t-run-after-her-she-will-run/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Coquetry is the essential characteristic, and the prevalent humor of women; but they do not all practice it, because the coquetry of some is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/coquetry-is-the-essential-characteristic-and-the-prevalent-humor-of/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [It is a species of coquetry to make a parade of never practising it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-a-species-of-coquetry-to-make-a-parade-of-never-practising-it/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [New vows to plight, and plighted vows to break.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/new-vows-to-plight-and-plighted-vows-to-break/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) ## More by Oriana Fallaci > [Henry Kissinger may have wished I had presented him as a combination of Charles DeGaulle and Disraeli, but I didn't…out of respect for DeGaulle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/henry-kissinger-may-have-wished-i-had-presented-him-as-a-combination/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [One day you and I will have to have a little talk about this business called love. I still don't understand what it's all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/one-day-you-and-i-will-have-to-have-a-little-talk-about-this-business/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [Europe becomes more and more a province of Islam, a colony of Islam. And Italy is an outpost of that province, a stronghold of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/europe-becomes-more-and-more-a-province-of-islam-a-colony-of-islam/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [Journalism is an extraordinary and terrible privilege. Not by chance, if you are aware of it, does it consume you with a hundred feelings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/journalism-is-an-extraordinary-and-terrible-privilege-not-by-chance/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [I don't hide. I never have. I stay at home because I like to stay at home, and at home I work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/i-don-t-hide-i-never-have-i-stay-at-home-because-i-like-to-stay-at/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [“i live on my books. on my writings, i live on my royalties: the percentage an author recieves on each sold copy. and i…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/i-live-on-my-books-on-my-writings-i-live-on-my-royalties-the/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [Whether it comes from a despotic sovereign or an elected president, from a murderous general or a beloved leader, I see power as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/whether-it-comes-from-a-despotic-sovereign-or-an-elected-president/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [How do you dare to ask me for a solution? It's like asking Seneca for a solution. You remember what he did? He committed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/how-do-you-dare-to-ask-me-for-a-solution-it-s-like-asking-seneca-for/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [Physical courage is a great test.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/physical-courage-is-a-great-test/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [If a man is a man and not a sheep in the flock, he has a survival instinct in him that leads him to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/if-a-man-is-a-man-and-not-a-sheep-in-the-flock-he-has-a-survival/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [There are moments in Life when keeping silent becomes a fault, and speaking an obligation. A civic duty, a moral challenge, a categorical imperative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/there-are-moments-in-life-when-keeping-silent-becomes-a-fault-and/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [Khomeini was not a puppet like Arafat or Qaddafi or the many other dictators I met in the Islamic world. He was a sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/khomeini-was-not-a-puppet-like-arafat-or-qaddafi-or-the-many-other/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [Laura Bush has the face of my mother when my mother was young. The face, the body, the voice. The first time I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/laura-bush-has-the-face-of-my-mother-when-my-mother-was-young-the/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [“La guerra è un infanticidio in massa, rinviato di vent'anni.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/la-guerra-un-infanticidio-in-massa-rinviato-di-vent-anni/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [America's vulnerability comes precisely from its strength, its wealth, its power and its modernity. It's the usual story of the dog chasing its own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/america-s-vulnerability-comes-precisely-from-its-strength-its-wealth/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) [Explore all 118 Oriana Fallaci quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) ## More Coquette quotes > [New vows to plight, and plighted vows to break.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/new-vows-to-plight-and-plighted-vows-to-break/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [It is a species of coquetry to make a parade of never practising it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-a-species-of-coquetry-to-make-a-parade-of-never-practising-it/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Coquetry is the essential characteristic, and the prevalent humor of women; but they do not all practice it, because the coquetry of some is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/coquetry-is-the-essential-characteristic-and-the-prevalent-humor-of/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Fortune is like a coquette; if you don't run after her, she will run after you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/fortune-is-like-a-coquette-if-you-don-t-run-after-her-she-will-run/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Women find it far more difficult to overcome their inclination to coquetry than to overcome their love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/women-find-it-far-more-difficult-to-overcome-their-inclination-to/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [dont undress my love you might find a mannequin dont undress the mannequin you might find love. shes long ago forgotten me. hes trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/dont-undress-my-love-you-might-find-a-mannequin-dont-undress-the/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [He who wins a thousand common hearts is entitled to some renown; but he who keeps undisputed sway over the heart of a coquette…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/he-who-wins-a-thousand-common-hearts-is-entitled-to-some-renown-but/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Beautiful coquettes are quacks of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/beautiful-coquettes-are-quacks-of-love/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [In the School of Coquettes Madam Rose is a scholar,-O, they fish with all nets In the School of Coquettes! When her brooch she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-austin-dobson/in-the-school-of-coquettes-madam-rose-is-a-scholar-o-they-fish-with/) [Henry Austin Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-austin-dobson/) > [A coquette is a young lady of more beauty than sense, more accomplishments than learning, more charms not person than graces of mind, more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/a-coquette-is-a-young-lady-of-more-beauty-than-sense-more/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [Coquettes are, but too rare. It is a career that requires great abilities, infinite pains, a gay and airy spirit. 'T is the coquette…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/coquettes-are-but-too-rare-it-is-a-career-that-requires-great/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [A modern writer likens coquettes to those hunters who do not eat the game which they have successfully pursued.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-braddon/a-modern-writer-likens-coquettes-to-those-hunters-who-do-not-eat-the/) [Mary Elizabeth Braddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-braddon/) > [A coquette is like a recruiting sergeant, always on the lookout for fresh victims.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-coquette-is-like-a-recruiting-sergeant-always-on-the-lookout-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Wit resembles a coquette; those who the most eagerly run after it are the least favored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chenier/wit-resembles-a-coquette-those-who-the-most-eagerly-run-after-it-are/) Joseph Chenier > [Any woman may act the part of a coquette successfully who has the reputation without the scruples of modesty. If a woman passes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/any-woman-may-act-the-part-of-a-coquette-successfully-who-has-the/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) Browse all 42 Coquette quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The most humiliating thing a woman can be is a coquette.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oriana Fallaci" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/the-most-humiliating-thing-a-woman-can-be-is-a-coquette/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Coquette" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/the-most-humiliating-thing-a-woman-can-be-is-a-coquette/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d1/oriana-fallaci-3082_coquette_the-most-humiliating-thing-a-woman-can-b_1509762.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d1/oriana-fallaci-3082_coquette_the-most-humiliating-thing-a-woman-can-b_1509762.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d1/oriana-fallaci-3082_coquette_the-most-humiliating-thing-a-woman-can-b_1509762.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The most humiliating thing a woman can be is a coquette.” — Oriana Fallaci", "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": "Oriana Fallaci", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The most humiliating thing a woman...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/the-most-humiliating-thing-a-woman-can-be-is-a-coquette/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/the-most-humiliating-thing-a-woman-can-be-is-a-coquette/#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 } } ] } ```