---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Honor students -- black, white, or Asia…"
description: "\"“Honor students -- black, white, or Asia Minor -- tended to be nicer. Maybe they were just as mean on the inside, but they were scared of getting in tr..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/852/rainbow-rowell-135_black-white_honor-students-black-white-or-asia-minor_115190.jpg"
---

#  Honor students -- black, white, or Asia Minor -- tended to…

![“Honor students -- black, white, or Asia Minor -- tended to be nicer. Maybe they were just as mean on the inside, but they were scared of getting in trouble. Or maybe they were just as mean on the inside, but they'd been trained to be polite -- to give up their seats for old people and girls.” quote by Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/852/rainbow-rowell-135_black-white_honor-students-black-white-or-asia-minor_115190.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/852/rainbow-rowell-135_black-white_honor-students-black-white-or-asia-minor_115190.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/852/rainbow-rowell-135_black-white_honor-students-black-white-or-asia-minor_115190.jpg)

> ““Honor students -- black, white, or Asia Minor -- tended to be nicer. Maybe they were just as mean on the inside, but they were scared of getting in trouble. Or maybe they were just as mean on the inside, but they'd been trained to be polite -- to give up their seats for old people and girls.””

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

## About This Quote

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

Honor students appear polite and kind outwardly, but may conceal inner resentment or aggression, revealing a gap between external behavior and internal feelings.

**In simple terms:** Politeness can mask inner hostility.

Key Takeaway

External niceness doesn’t guarantee inner goodwill.

Themes

behavior social pressure authenticity

Mood

insightful cautious

Type

observation social critique

When to use this quote

- classroom dynamics
- customer service
- family gatherings

Key Concepts

impression management emotional suppression

Practical Applications

- Encourage honest emotional expression
- Provide safe spaces for venting

Questions to Reflect On

- Why do people hide negative emotions?
- How can we detect authentic kindness?

A Different Perspective

Some individuals genuinely embody kindness without hidden resentment.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Black white](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-white/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) [Honor Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor-students-1357127/) [Old people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-people/) [Polite Seats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polite-seats-1357128/) [Students Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students-black-1357129/) [Tended Nicer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tended-nicer-1357130/)

## Related quotes

> [“Maybe they were just as mean on the inside, but they were scared of getting in trouble. Or maybe they were just as mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/maybe-they-were-just-as-mean-on-the-inside-but-they-were-scared-of/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [Students and invited speakers do not shed their constitutional rights when they step up to the graduation podium. Expressing faith in God does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/students-and-invited-speakers-do-not-shed-their-constitutional-rights/)

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

> [ In January of 1969, after a meeting to discuss the leadership of UCLA's new Afro-American Program, \[Alprentice "Bunchy" Carter and John Huggins, Jr.\] were… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kareem-abdul-jabbar/in-january-of-1969-after-a-meeting-to-discuss-the-leadership-of-ucla/)

[Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kareem-abdul-jabbar/)

> [We must realise that prophetic cry of black students: Black man you are on your own!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-must-realise-that-prophetic-cry-of-black-students-black-man-you/)

[Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/)

> [You flirt with old people and babies and everybody in between.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/you-flirt-with-old-people-and-babies-and-everybody-in-between/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [In the '70s, in Britain, if you were going to do serious photography, you were obliged to work in black-and-white. Color was the palette…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/in-the-70s-in-britain-if-you-were-going-to-do-serious-photography-you/)

[Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/)

> [My comedy has no color, it's for everybody, black, white, Latino, Asian. It's not a pro-black show, not a def jam show; it's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bruce/my-comedy-has-no-color-it-s-for-everybody-black-white-latino-asian-it/)

[Bruce Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bruce/)

> [I see Americans of every party, every background, every faith who believe that we are stronger together: black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American; young,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-see-americans-of-every-party-every-background-every-faith-who/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [With 'City of Black &amp; White,' I wanted a record that would make you feel good, that would sort of take you up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-kearney/with-city-of-black-white-i-wanted-a-record-that-would-make-you-feel/)

[Mat Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-kearney/)

> [When your life feels black and white make sure that you dream in color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rytmz-ryme/when-your-life-feels-black-and-white-make-sure-that-you-dream-in-color/)

[Rytmz Ryme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rytmz-ryme/)

> [I don't think of people as out-and-out black or white.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tabu/i-don-t-think-of-people-as-out-and-out-black-or-white/)

[Tabu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tabu/)

> [If you find yourself in a relationship or even a friendship with someone who's conflicted with their gender identity, just be kind. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-d-thompson/if-you-find-yourself-in-a-relationship-or-even-a-friendship-with/)

[Linda D. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-d-thompson/)

> [Which is probably the reason why I work exclusively in black and white... to highlight that contrast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-nimoy/which-is-probably-the-reason-why-i-work-exclusively-in-black-and/)

[Leonard Nimoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-nimoy/)

> [We shall be free only together, black and white. We shall survive only together, black and white. We can be human only together, black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/we-shall-be-free-only-together-black-and-white-we-shall-survive-only/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

> [Each of us is precious to God because each of us has their name written on the palms of God's hands. And God says…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/each-of-us-is-precious-to-god-because-each-of-us-has-their-name/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

## More by Rainbow Rowell

> [Reagan was sitting up at Cath's desk when Cath woke up. "Are you awake?" "Have you been watching me sleep?" "Yes, Bella. Are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/reagan-was-sitting-up-at-cath-s-desk-when-cath-woke-up-are-you-awake/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“Are you awake?” “Have you been watching me sleep?” “Yes, Bella. Are you awake?” “No.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/are-you-awake-have-you-been-watching-me-sleep-yes-bella-are-you-awake/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“Someone was knocking on her windshield. Georgie lifted her head off the steering wheel. It was Kendrick. She couldn’t really hear what he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/someone-was-knocking-on-her-windshield-georgie-lifted-her-head-off/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [Maybe Park had paralyzed her with his ninja magic, his Vulcan handhold, and now he was going to eat her. That would be awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/maybe-park-had-paralyzed-her-with-his-ninja-magic-his-vulcan-handhold/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“She wouldn't pick up a fight him just because she was bored.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/she-wouldn-t-pick-up-a-fight-him-just-because-she-was-bored/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“That person thought that wearing an ugly dress on the happiest day of someone else's life was just the beginning-the line you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/that-person-thought-that-wearing-an-ugly-dress-on-the-happiest-day-of/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“Is this where you tell me that I'm a scoundrel, and I say that I think you like me because I'm a scoundrel? Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/is-this-where-you-tell-me-that-i-m-a-scoundrel-and-i-say-that-i-think/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“Te informo de que mi respuesta a tus próximas doce afirmaciones va a ser: «¿Cómo dices?»”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/te-informo-de-que-mi-respuesta-a-tus-pr-ximas-doce-afirmaciones-va-a/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“Dude. Let it go. Good riddance to bad rubbers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/dude-let-it-go-good-riddance-to-bad-rubbers/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [He looked exactly like a rat. Like the human being version of a rat. Like the villain in a Don Bluth movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/he-looked-exactly-like-a-rat-like-the-human-being-version-of-a-rat/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“Tell me more about the mountains, Georgie said, because she wasn't really sure what to ask. Because ' tell me where I went wrong'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/tell-me-more-about-the-mountains-georgie-said-because-she-wasn-t/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [God, his chin. She wanted to make an honest woman of his chin. She wanted to lock it down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/god-his-chin-she-wanted-to-make-an-honest-woman-of-his-chin-she/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“Wait, I really do need your help with this." He turned his computer monitor toward her and pointed. "Is this funny? It's a Snoopy/Snoop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/wait-i-really-do-need-your-help-with-this-he-turned-his-computer/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“You need to cool down first.” “I’m cool.” “Simon. You’re never cool.” “That hurts, Penny.” “It shouldn’t. It’s one of the reasons I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/you-need-to-cool-down-first-i-m-cool-simon-you-re-never-cool-that/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [“She'd get out of the shower the next morning, and it would be written in the steam on the mirror. Dance. Dress. Try a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/she-d-get-out-of-the-shower-the-next-morning-and-it-would-be-written/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

[Explore all 1,108 Rainbow Rowell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

## More Black white quotes

> [Each of us is precious to God because each of us has their name written on the palms of God's hands. And God says…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/each-of-us-is-precious-to-god-because-each-of-us-has-their-name/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

> [We shall be free only together, black and white. We shall survive only together, black and white. We can be human only together, black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/we-shall-be-free-only-together-black-and-white-we-shall-survive-only/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

> [Which is probably the reason why I work exclusively in black and white... to highlight that contrast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-nimoy/which-is-probably-the-reason-why-i-work-exclusively-in-black-and/)

[Leonard Nimoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-nimoy/)

> [If you find yourself in a relationship or even a friendship with someone who's conflicted with their gender identity, just be kind. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-d-thompson/if-you-find-yourself-in-a-relationship-or-even-a-friendship-with/)

[Linda D. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-d-thompson/)

> [I don't think of people as out-and-out black or white.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tabu/i-don-t-think-of-people-as-out-and-out-black-or-white/)

[Tabu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tabu/)

> [When your life feels black and white make sure that you dream in color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rytmz-ryme/when-your-life-feels-black-and-white-make-sure-that-you-dream-in-color/)

[Rytmz Ryme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rytmz-ryme/)

> [With 'City of Black &amp; White,' I wanted a record that would make you feel good, that would sort of take you up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-kearney/with-city-of-black-white-i-wanted-a-record-that-would-make-you-feel/)

[Mat Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-kearney/)

> [I see Americans of every party, every background, every faith who believe that we are stronger together: black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American; young,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-see-americans-of-every-party-every-background-every-faith-who/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [My comedy has no color, it's for everybody, black, white, Latino, Asian. It's not a pro-black show, not a def jam show; it's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bruce/my-comedy-has-no-color-it-s-for-everybody-black-white-latino-asian-it/)

[Bruce Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bruce/)

> [In the '70s, in Britain, if you were going to do serious photography, you were obliged to work in black-and-white. Color was the palette…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/in-the-70s-in-britain-if-you-were-going-to-do-serious-photography-you/)

[Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/)

> [The liberal feminist movement never imagined that women would take seriously the encouragement to become our own heroes and claim life for ourselves, on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-bruce/the-liberal-feminist-movement-never-imagined-that-women-would-take/)

[Tammy Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-bruce/)

> [It aint about black or white, coz we all human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/2pac/it-aint-about-black-or-white-coz-we-all-human/)

[2pac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/2pac/)

> [I want to be the voice of the people; black, white, everyday, oppressed people. A person trying to make it and to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/common/i-want-to-be-the-voice-of-the-people-black-white-everyday-oppressed/)

[Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/common/)

> [The Muslim world just doesn't believe that skin color is all that important. Obama may be half-black, but he's still all-Western, according to them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/the-muslim-world-just-doesn-t-believe-that-skin-color-is-all-that/)

[Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/)

> [Color is the overpowering of black; white – the final victory over black.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/color-is-the-overpowering-of-black-white-the-final-victory-over-black/)

[Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/)

[Browse all 444 Black white quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-white/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Honor students -- black, white, or Asia Minor -- tended to be nicer. Maybe they were just as mean on the inside, but they were scared of getting in trouble. Or maybe they were just as mean on the inside, but they'd been trained to be polite -- to give up their seats for old people and girls.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Rainbow Rowell"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/honor-students-black-white-or-asia-minor-tended-to-be-nicer-maybe/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Black white"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/honor-students-black-white-or-asia-minor-tended-to-be-nicer-maybe/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/852/rainbow-rowell-135_black-white_honor-students-black-white-or-asia-minor_115190.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/852/rainbow-rowell-135_black-white_honor-students-black-white-or-asia-minor_115190.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/852/rainbow-rowell-135_black-white_honor-students-black-white-or-asia-minor_115190.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Honor students -- black, white, or Asia Minor -- tended to be nicer. Maybe they were just as mean on the…” — Rainbow Rowell",
                "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": "Rainbow Rowell",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Honor students -- black, white, or...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/honor-students-black-white-or-asia-minor-tended-to-be-nicer-maybe/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/honor-students-black-white-or-asia-minor-tended-to-be-nicer-maybe/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
