--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They were looking after themselves…" description: "\"“They were looking after themselves, living with rigid economy; and there was no greater proof of their friendship than the way their harmony withstood..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94b/patrick-o-brian-2283_peace_they-were-looking-after-themselves-livin_1834984.jpg" --- # They were looking after themselves, living with rigid… ![“They were looking after themselves, living with rigid economy; and there was no greater proof of their friendship than the way their harmony withstood their very grave differences in domestic behaviour. In Jack's opinion Stephen was little better than a slut: his papers, odd bits of dry, garlic'd…” quote by Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94b/patrick-o-brian-2283_peace_they-were-looking-after-themselves-livin_1834984.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94b/patrick-o-brian-2283_peace_they-were-looking-after-themselves-livin_1834984.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94b/patrick-o-brian-2283_peace_they-were-looking-after-themselves-livin_1834984.jpg) > ““They were looking after themselves, living with rigid economy; and there was no greater proof of their friendship than the way their harmony withstood their very grave differences in domestic behaviour. In Jack's opinion Stephen was little better than a slut: his papers, odd bits of dry, garlic'd bread, his razors and small-clothes lay on and about his private table in a miserable squalor; and from the appearance of the grizzled wig that was now acting as a tea-cosy for his milk-saucepan, it was clear that he had breakfasted on marmalade. Jack took off his coat, covered his waistcoat and breeches with an apron, and carried the dishes into the scullery. 'My plate and saucer will serve again,' said Stephen. 'I have blown upon them. I do wish, Jack,' he cried, 'that you would leave that milk-saucepan alone. It is perfectly clean. What more sanitary, what more wholesome, than scalded milk?”” [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Friendship endures despite stark personal differences and chaotic living conditions. **In simple terms:** Friends stay close even when lives are messy. Key Takeaway Value and nurture resilient relationships. Themes friendship differences resilience domestic life Mood warm nostalgic Type literary reflective When to use this quote - shared housing - family gatherings - conflict resolution - daily chores Key Concepts human nature social bonds adaptation Questions to Reflect On - What habits strengthen friendship under stress? - How do you handle domestic disagreements? A Different Perspective Friendship can be strained by neglect or selfishness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Carried Dishes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carried-dishes-2303697/) [Jack Cried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jack-cried-2303696/) [Jack Took](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jack-took-1578091/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Said Stephen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-stephen-590214/) [Stephen Blown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stephen-blown-2303698/) ## Related quotes > [“It was a damned near-run thing, I must admit,' said Jack, modestly; then after a pause he laughed and said, 'I remember your using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/it-was-a-damned-near-run-thing-i-must-admit-said-jack-modestly-then/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“You are a reasonably civil, complaisant creature on dry land,' said Stephen, 'but the moment you are afloat you become pragmatical and absolute, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/you-are-a-reasonably-civil-complaisant-creature-on-dry-land-said/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [Why there you are, Stephen,' cried Jack. 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Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-b-cooney/) > [“I have been run over by the speeding chariot of fate, caught up in its spiked wheels." - "I hate it when that happens,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jude-morgan/i-have-been-run-over-by-the-speeding-chariot-of-fate-caught-up-in-its/) [Jude Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jude-morgan/) > [“How terrifyingly efficient she sounds," said Stephen. "I think I should faint in her presence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-p-hartley/how-terrifyingly-efficient-she-sounds-said-stephen-i-think-i-should/) [L.P. Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-p-hartley/) ## More by Patrick O'Brian > [“Christ's blood in heaven, you ignorant, incompetent whey-faced nestlecock, do you think I am a hired spy, an informer? That I have a master,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/christ-s-blood-in-heaven-you-ignorant-incompetent-whey-faced/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“To tell the truth, sir, I believe I had rather sit in the shelter for a while. The cabbage seems to have turned my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/to-tell-the-truth-sir-i-believe-i-had-rather-sit-in-the-shelter-for-a/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“Never mind the disappointment. Salt water will wash it away. 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Where, heu, heu, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/this-short-watch-that-is-about-to-come-or-rather-these-two-short/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [The function of the novel is the exploration of the human condition. Really, that's what it's all about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/the-function-of-the-novel-is-the-exploration-of-the-human-condition/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [It is a great while since I felt the grind of bone under my saw,' he added, smiling with anticipation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/it-is-a-great-while-since-i-felt-the-grind-of-bone-under-my-saw-he/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [Other people's marriages are a perpetual source of amazement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/other-people-s-marriages-are-a-perpetual-source-of-amazement/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“But I will tell you another misery that is not to be denied. In the common, natural course of events physicians, surgeons and apothecaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/but-i-will-tell-you-another-misery-that-is-not-to-be-denied-in-the/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“Yet,'said Maturin, pursuing his own thought, 'there is a quality in dogs, I must confess, rarely to be seen elsewhere and that is affection:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/yet-said-maturin-pursuing-his-own-thought-there-is-a-quality-in-dogs/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“Physically he was tired and his body relaxed throughout its entire length; his mind was in much the same state, floating free, detached, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/physically-he-was-tired-and-his-body-relaxed-throughout-its-entire/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“It was quite unlike their friendly discourse of some days before, and presently Stephen grew sadly bored: lies or half-lies, he reflected, had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/it-was-quite-unlike-their-friendly-discourse-of-some-days-before-and/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“it would be the Devil to pay and no pitch hot”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/it-would-be-the-devil-to-pay-and-no-pitch-hot/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) [Explore all 167 Patrick O'Brian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) ## More Peace quotes > [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [“Peace requires a discipline more iron than war. - Easter, 1939 ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-turner/peace-requires-a-discipline-more-iron-than-war-easter-1939/) [W.J. Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-turner/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. 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In Jack's opinion Stephen was little better than a slut: his papers, odd bits of dry, garlic'd bread, his razors and small-clothes lay on and about his private table in a miserable squalor; and from the appearance of the grizzled wig that was now acting as a tea-cosy for his milk-saucepan, it was clear that he had breakfasted on marmalade. Jack took off his coat, covered his waistcoat and breeches with an apron, and carried the dishes into the scullery. 'My plate and saucer will serve again,' said Stephen. 'I have blown upon them. I do wish, Jack,' he cried, 'that you would leave that milk-saucepan alone. It is perfectly clean. 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