---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most powerful men of the kingdom have…"
description: "\"“The most powerful men of the kingdom have dragged a duchess down and sent her out to be a marvel to the common people of London. They are so deeply af..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/philippa-gregory-674_common-people_the-most-powerful-men-of-the-kingdom-hav_1334674.jpg"
---

#  The most powerful men of the kingdom have dragged a…

![“The most powerful men of the kingdom have dragged a duchess down and sent her out to be a marvel to the common people of London. They are so deeply afraid of her that they took the risk to dishonor their own. They are so anxious to save themselves that they thought they should throw her aside.” quote by Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/philippa-gregory-674_common-people_the-most-powerful-men-of-the-kingdom-hav_1334674.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/philippa-gregory-674_common-people_the-most-powerful-men-of-the-kingdom-hav_1334674.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/philippa-gregory-674_common-people_the-most-powerful-men-of-the-kingdom-hav_1334674.jpg)

> ““The most powerful men of the kingdom have dragged a duchess down and sent her out to be a marvel to the common people of London. They are so deeply afraid of her that they took the risk to dishonor their own. They are so anxious to save themselves that they thought they should throw her aside.””

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Powerful figures suppress a threatening woman, fearing her influence, leading them to betray their own honor.

**In simple terms:** The powerful fear a strong woman and betray themselves.

Key Takeaway

Beware letting fear drive dishonorable actions.

Themes

power fear honor gender politics

Mood

tense critical

Type

historical political

When to use this quote

- court intrigue
- media scandals
- activist suppression
- personal relationships

Key Concepts

Patriarchy social control reputation management

Questions to Reflect On

- How does fear of a strong woman manifest in modern institutions?
- What honor can protect integrity when confronting powerful opposition?

A Different Perspective

The narrative may romanticize the victim, overlooking systemic issues.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Common people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-people/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Witch trials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witch-trials/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/)

## Related quotes

> [“I wish that I could be of more help Joshua,” she said before sighing deeply. “But I’m afraid that what’s coming is way above…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-hopkins/i-wish-that-i-could-be-of-more-help-joshua-she-said-before-sighing/)

[M.F. Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-hopkins/)

> [How strange it is. We have these deep terrible lingering fears about ourselves and the people we love. Yet we walk around, talk to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/how-strange-it-is-we-have-these-deep-terrible-lingering-fears-about/)

[Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/)

> [We have to realize that we are as deeply afraid to live and to love as we are to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-have-to-realize-that-we-are-as-deeply-afraid-to-live-and-to-love/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [ \[Depp\] has real ambitions, but he is deeply afraid of being considered pretentious. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lasse-hallstrom/depp-has-real-ambitions-but-he-is-deeply-afraid-of-being-considered/)

[Lasse Hallstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lasse-hallstrom/)

> [“There are, apparently, persons who are deeply afraid of their own emotions, particularly the painful ones. Grief, regret, sadness. Sadness especially, perhaps. Dolores describes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-apparently-persons-who-are-deeply-afraid-of-their-own/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“We're happy to participate in something we are deeply afraid will break out hearts, because we know, no matter the outcome it makes our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-may-fowles/we-re-happy-to-participate-in-something-we-are-deeply-afraid-will/)

[Stacey May Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-may-fowles/)

> [“The tears in my eyes are now running down my cheeks at the thought that I have been his wife and his bedfellow, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/the-tears-in-my-eyes-are-now-running-down-my-cheeks-at-the-thought/)

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

> [“I pray for her soul with genuine feeling. She was a terribly unlucky girl. Her father Warwick adored her and thought he would make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/i-pray-for-her-soul-with-genuine-feeling-she-was-a-terribly-unlucky/)

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

> [“I have never seen a contemporary history book that informs students that witch trials were also occurring across the world at that time with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-barton/i-have-never-seen-a-contemporary-history-book-that-informs-students/)

[David Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-barton/)

> [Even the best of us have certain psychological mechanisms that can suddenly kick in and turn us into monsters. That to me is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/even-the-best-of-us-have-certain-psychological-mechanisms-that-can/)

[Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/)

> [In his play depicting the Salem Witch Trials, the author illustrates profound psychological bullying. The ringleader of young girls suspected of unsavory conduct, frightens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/in-his-play-depicting-the-salem-witch-trials-the-author-illustrates/)

[Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/)

> [That to me is the basic message of events like the rise of Nazism, the Salem witch trials, and so on: not that bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/that-to-me-is-the-basic-message-of-events-like-the-rise-of-nazism-the/)

[Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/)

> [“This mundus tenebrosus, this shaddowy world of Mankind, is sunk into Night; there is not a Field without its Spirits, nor a City without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/this-mundus-tenebrosus-this-shaddowy-world-of-mankind-is-sunk-into/)

[Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/)

> [ “The Salem \[witch\] trials…can be seen as an example of the propensity of the American people to be convulsed by spasms of self-righteous rage… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-johnson/the-salem-witch-trials-can-be-seen-as-an-example-of-the-propensity-of/)

[Paul Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-johnson/)

> [“Wounds that haven’t healed properly still hurt you. You pretend to allow them faze you, but I see past the mask. Shame, that a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-ashby/wounds-that-haven-t-healed-properly-still-hurt-you-you-pretend-to/)

[Millicent Ashby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-ashby/)

## More by Philippa Gregory

> [“Mother, before God," I say, my voice shaking with tears, "I swear that I have to believe that there is more for me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/mother-before-god-i-say-my-voice-shaking-with-tears-i-swear-that-i/)

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

> [“Say yes,’ he whispers. ‘Marry me.’ I hesitate. I open my eyes. ‘You will get my fortune,’ I remark. ‘When I marry you, everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/say-yes-he-whispers-marry-me-i-hesitate-i-open-my-eyes-you-will-get/)

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

> [“But I warn you that a woman who seeks great power and wealth has to pay a great price, Perhaps you will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/but-i-warn-you-that-a-woman-who-seeks-great-power-and-wealth-has-to/)

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

> [“I raised my hand to wave in case he looked back; but he did not. He rode straight backed, looking forward. He rode like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/i-raised-my-hand-to-wave-in-case-he-looked-back-but-he-did-not-he/)

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

> [“When you are still and thoughtful you are as lovely as the statues they are carving in Italy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/when-you-are-still-and-thoughtful-you-are-as-lovely-as-the-statues/)

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

> [Edward lives as if there is no tomorrow, Richard as if he wants no tomorrow, and George as though someone should give it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/edward-lives-as-if-there-is-no-tomorrow-richard-as-if-he-wants-no/)

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

> [You can smile when your heart is breaking because you're a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/you-can-smile-when-your-heart-is-breaking-because-you-re-a-woman/)

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

> [En Ma Fin Est Ma Commencement - In my end is my beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/en-ma-fin-est-ma-commencement-in-my-end-is-my-beginning/)

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

> [“We fell asleep wrapped in each other as if we could not bear to part, even in sleep we could not bear to let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/we-fell-asleep-wrapped-in-each-other-as-if-we-could-not-bear-to-part/)

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

> [“One little boy, and he a bastard,' Anne said thoughtfully. 'One little girl of six, one elderly Queen and a King in the prime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/one-little-boy-and-he-a-bastard-anne-said-thoughtfully-one-little/)

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

> [“We have been married little more than a year and already there is a terrible silence around some subjects. We never speak of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/we-have-been-married-little-more-than-a-year-and-already-there-is-a/)

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

> [“It doesn’t matter if you call it magic or determination. It doesn’t matter if you make a spell or a plot. You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-call-it-magic-or-determination-it-doesn-t/)

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

> [“You are my heart. Even if you are a broken heart”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/you-are-my-heart-even-if-you-are-a-broken-heart/)

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

> [“I have overturned the order. Nothing will ever be the same for any woman in this country again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/i-have-overturned-the-order-nothing-will-ever-be-the-same-for-any/)

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

> [“I will make my own future, not predict it. I don’t need a charm to tell me what I hope will happen. I throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/i-will-make-my-own-future-not-predict-it-i-don-t-need-a-charm-to-tell/)

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

[Explore all 408 Philippa Gregory quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

## More Common people quotes

> [“For rulers, religion is a great tool to rule the common people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/for-rulers-religion-is-a-great-tool-to-rule-the-common-people/)

[Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/)

> [Government not just for a few, it belongs to the common people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/government-not-just-for-a-few-it-belongs-to-the-common-people/)

[Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/)

> [“To riot or not to riot, that is the question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/to-riot-or-not-to-riot-that-is-the-question/)

[Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/)

> [Adventure is the invitation to common people to become uncommon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-miller/adventure-is-the-invitation-to-common-people-to-become-uncommon/)

[Warren Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-miller/)

> [History more often records the brilliant successes and spectacular defeats of contending forces than the effect of war on the common people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mildred-cable/history-more-often-records-the-brilliant-successes-and-spectacular/)

[Mildred Cable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mildred-cable/)

> [“Because the Indians are planning to start war now, the common people want all of them destroyed so that they can live in peace;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-martin-boltzius/because-the-indians-are-planning-to-start-war-now-the-common-people/)

[Johann Martin Boltzius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-martin-boltzius/)

> [That wise Men have in all Ages thought Government necessary for the Good of Mankind; and, that wise Governments have always thought Religion necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/that-wise-men-have-in-all-ages-thought-government-necessary-for-the/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [Where there is no danger of overt action there is rarely any interference with freedom. That is why there has so often been amazing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/where-there-is-no-danger-of-overt-action-there-is-rarely-any/)

[Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/)

> [The common people feel themselves oppressed by the grasping of some, and their vanity is flattered by others. Fired with evil passions, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polybius/the-common-people-feel-themselves-oppressed-by-the-grasping-of-some/)

[Polybius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polybius/)

> [“I've said this before: a lot of people think they're artists because they feel things deeply. You know, we're in a culture now and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-schneider/i-ve-said-this-before-a-lot-of-people-think-they-re-artists-because/)

[Dan Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-schneider/)

> [Network marketing is the only industry that allows common people to earn millions with a minimal investment and zero overhead, coupled with total time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-yarnell/network-marketing-is-the-only-industry-that-allows-common-people-to/)

Mark Yarnell

> [Common sense, in so far as it exists, is all for the bourgeoisie. Nonsense is the privilege of the aristocracy. The worries of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/common-sense-in-so-far-as-it-exists-is-all-for-the-bourgeoisie/)

[George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/)

> [But-! I say! The common conventions of humanity-' 'Are all very well for common people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-i-say-the-common-conventions-of-humanity-are-all-very-well-for/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [People, the common people, can genuinely see what I'm doing. Moreover, people know that I have adopted four principles in living my life: simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-sattar-edhi/people-the-common-people-can-genuinely-see-what-i-m-doing-moreover/)

[Abdul Sattar Edhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-sattar-edhi/)

> [“In a sense the rise of Anabaptism was no surprise. Most revolutionary movements produce a wing of radicals who feel called of God to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-l-shelley/in-a-sense-the-rise-of-anabaptism-was-no-surprise-most-revolutionary/)

[Bruce L. Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-l-shelley/)

[Browse all 297 Common people quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-people/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The most powerful men of the kingdom have dragged a duchess down and sent her out to be a marvel to the common people of London. They are so deeply afraid of her that they took the risk to dishonor their own. They are so anxious to save themselves that they thought they should throw her aside.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Philippa Gregory"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/the-most-powerful-men-of-the-kingdom-have-dragged-a-duchess-down-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Common people"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/the-most-powerful-men-of-the-kingdom-have-dragged-a-duchess-down-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/philippa-gregory-674_common-people_the-most-powerful-men-of-the-kingdom-hav_1334674.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/philippa-gregory-674_common-people_the-most-powerful-men-of-the-kingdom-hav_1334674.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/philippa-gregory-674_common-people_the-most-powerful-men-of-the-kingdom-hav_1334674.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The most powerful men of the kingdom have dragged a duchess down and sent her out to be a marvel to the…” — Philippa Gregory",
                "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": "Philippa Gregory",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“The most powerful men of the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/the-most-powerful-men-of-the-kingdom-have-dragged-a-duchess-down-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/the-most-powerful-men-of-the-kingdom-have-dragged-a-duchess-down-and/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
