--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I assume 'elegant gentlemen,' such as…" description: "\"“I assume 'elegant gentlemen,' such as you, learn such useful skills very early in life.\" \"Actually, no.\" Straight-faced, Vane reached for her pins. \"U..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e3/stephanie-laurens-4465_gentlemen_i-assume-elegant-gentlemen-such-as-you-l_16758.png" --- # I assume 'elegant gentlemen,' such as you, learn such… ![“I assume 'elegant gentlemen,' such as you, learn such useful skills very early in life." "Actually, no." Straight-faced, Vane reached for her pins. "Us rakes-of-the-first-order..." Dropping pins left and right, he set her hair cascading down. With a satisfied smile, he caught her about the waist…” quote by Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e3/stephanie-laurens-4465_gentlemen_i-assume-elegant-gentlemen-such-as-you-l_16758.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e3/stephanie-laurens-4465_gentlemen_i-assume-elegant-gentlemen-such-as-you-l_16758.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e3/stephanie-laurens-4465_gentlemen_i-assume-elegant-gentlemen-such-as-you-l_16758.png) > ““I assume 'elegant gentlemen,' such as you, learn such useful skills very early in life." "Actually, no." Straight-faced, Vane reached for her pins. "Us rakes-of-the-first-order..." Dropping pins left and right, he set her hair cascading down. With a satisfied smile, he caught her about the waist and drew her hard against him. "We," he said, looking into her eyes, "spend our time concentrating on rather different skills- like letting ladies' hair down. And getting them out of their clothes. Getting them into bed. And other things." He demonstrated- very effectively.”” [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker contrasts refined gentlemanly behavior with a predatory, manipulative approach to women, emphasizing sexual conquest over decorum. **In simple terms:** A critique of false civility masking predatory intent. Key Takeaway Appearances can hide exploitative motives. Themes Power dynamics Sexual exploitation Deception Gender roles Social masks Mood cynical darkly humorous seductive Type dialogue narrative description When to use this quote - A flirtatious encounter - A seductive power play - A social gathering where charm is used - A private setting where intent is revealed Key Concepts Manipulation Consent Masculinity Social performance Practical Applications - Analyzing character motives in literature - Teaching about consent and power Questions to Reflect On - What does the speaker's tone reveal about his view of women? - How does the contrast between 'elegant' and 'rakes' affect the narrative? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gentlemen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentlemen/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Patience-and-vane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience-and-vane/) [Rake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rake/) ## Related quotes > [“So," he murmured, his tone deep, "nothing of any moment happened here." Her gaze transfixed by the long strip of linen, Patience tried to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/so-he-murmured-his-tone-deep-nothing-of-any-moment-happened-here-her/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“Are you planning to stay?" He looked down at her. "That," he stated, his voice very low, "depends largely on you." Patience looked into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/are-you-planning-to-stay-he-looked-down-at-her-that-he-stated-his/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“Patience looked at Vane and saw him dismount- by bringing his leg over the saddlebow and sliding to the ground, landing on his feet.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/patience-looked-at-vane-and-saw-him-dismount-by-bringing-his-leg-over/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“Vane met her wide gaze, and managed not to smile wolfishly- no need to frighten the prey. The view he now had- of delectable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/vane-met-her-wide-gaze-and-managed-not-to-smile-wolfishly-no-need-to/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“That kiss was a revelation- Patience had never imagined a simple kiss could be so bold, so heavily invested with meaning. His lips were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/that-kiss-was-a-revelation-patience-had-never-imagined-a-simple-kiss/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“I've grown sick of the upstairs parlor." The parlor he'd arranged for her. "I'm bored there." Vane glanced at her as he juggled her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/i-ve-grown-sick-of-the-upstairs-parlor-the-parlor-he-d-arranged-for/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“Beyond his volition, Vane's gaze lowered to her lips, to the soft rose-tinted curves he now knew so well. Their shape was etched in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/beyond-his-volition-vane-s-gaze-lowered-to-her-lips-to-the-soft-rose/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“If I'd made it to the back parlor, I'd have been safe." Straightening, Vane met her gaze. "Safe from what? There's a daybed there,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/if-i-d-made-it-to-the-back-parlor-i-d-have-been-safe-straightening/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“He'd drawn her as close as propriety allowed; her green skirts swished against his boots. She was all woman, soft and curvaceous, mere inches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/he-d-drawn-her-as-close-as-propriety-allowed-her-green-skirts-swished/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“His rake's smile returning, Vane stood and strolled toward her. "Speaking of performance, would you like me to carry you to lunch?" She wouldn't-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/his-rake-s-smile-returning-vane-stood-and-strolled-toward-her/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“Hauling in a quick breath, she held it, stretched upward, shut her eyes, and fleetingly touched her lips to his. They were as hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/hauling-in-a-quick-breath-she-held-it-stretched-upward-shut-her-eyes/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“That's obviously my cue to depart." Patience grinned. "Coward," she whispered, as he passed her chair. A heartbeat later, he'd swung about and bent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/that-s-obviously-my-cue-to-depart-patience-grinned-coward-she/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“Patience's breath caught. Her lids fell. Wordlessly, she lifted her face, offering her lips. He took them, took her- as their lips fused, Patience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/patience-s-breath-caught-her-lids-fell-wordlessly-she-lifted-her-face/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“Why did you stay?" He stilled; again, Patience felt the net draw tight, felt paralysis set in as his predator's senses focused on her.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/why-did-you-stay-he-stilled-again-patience-felt-the-net-draw-tight/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“Vane watched her reaction from under heavy lids, watched flaring passion light her eyes. Sparks of pure gold flashed in the hazel depths as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/vane-watched-her-reaction-from-under-heavy-lids-watched-flaring/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) ## More by Stephanie Laurens > [“Assault!" he croaked. "The battery might yet follow." The warning- entirely unnecessary from Patience's perspective- came from Vane. One look at his face, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/assault-he-croaked-the-battery-might-yet-follow-the-warning-entirely/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“then her ladyship, overwhelming in bronze bombazine, regally glided away. Cedric smiled”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/then-her-ladyship-overwhelming-in-bronze-bombazine-regally-glided/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“So how are the wedding plans progressing?" Richard asked, once they were out of the village. "They aren't." Breckenridge heard his clipped tones, heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/so-how-are-the-wedding-plans-progressing-richard-asked-once-they-were/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“So," he murmured, his tone deep, "nothing of any moment happened here." Her gaze transfixed by the long strip of linen, Patience tried to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/so-he-murmured-his-tone-deep-nothing-of-any-moment-happened-here-her/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“Why did you stay?" He stilled; again, Patience felt the net draw tight, felt paralysis set in as his predator's senses focused on her.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/why-did-you-stay-he-stilled-again-patience-felt-the-net-draw-tight/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“She’d been expecting him to do so and had planned her revenge. She tipped forward as he lifted her; the shift in her weight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/she-d-been-expecting-him-to-do-so-and-had-planned-her-revenge-she/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“Delicate, hauntingly uncertain music floated out of the house. Vane heard it as he walked up from the stables. The lilting strains reached him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/delicate-hauntingly-uncertain-music-floated-out-of-the-house-vane/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“I've been meaning to ask," Breckenridge said, "jus how you came to topple backward off that rail." He looked at her. "What with one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/i-ve-been-meaning-to-ask-breckenridge-said-jus-how-you-came-to-topple/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“You also," he said, lowering his voice, "haven't yet thanked me for saving you from sitting in the flower bed." She didn't even look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/you-also-he-said-lowering-his-voice-haven-t-yet-thanked-me-for-saving/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“That woman who was her true self saw Lord Sebastian Cynster, Marquess of Earith, as, quite simply, hers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/that-woman-who-was-her-true-self-saw-lord-sebastian-cynster-marquess/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“Do you ride?" The question was out of his mouth before he'd thought. She glanced at him, surprised by the comment coming out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/do-you-ride-the-question-was-out-of-his-mouth-before-he-d-thought-she/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“Holding her breath, she stepped out, heading for the better-illuminated section of the room. Hard hands closed about her upper arms. She started-very nearly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/holding-her-breath-she-stepped-out-heading-for-the-better-illuminated/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [My heart only ever had one thought, one want. One need. Despite all, in spite of all...All my heart has ever wanted is you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/my-heart-only-ever-had-one-thought-one-want-one-need-despite-all-in/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“And remembered—all he'd nearly forgotten, all her wild responses had driven from his mind. This was one seduction he had to, needed to, manage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/and-remembered-all-he-d-nearly-forgotten-all-her-wild-responses-had/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [Love wasn't a happening one decided on---to indulge or not, to partake or not. To feel or not. When it came, when it struck,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/love-wasn-t-a-happening-one-decided-on-to-indulge-or-not-to-partake/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) [Explore all 110 Stephanie Laurens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) ## More Gentlemen quotes > [“A gentleman in those days consulted his heirs about tree planting. Should you plant a group of copper beeches against a group of white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/a-gentleman-in-those-days-consulted-his-heirs-about-tree-planting/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [How sad it is that these great gentlemen should believe what anyone tells them and do not choose to judge for themselves! But it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/how-sad-it-is-that-these-great-gentlemen-should-believe-what-anyone/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [“Never in England were there so many gentlemen and so little gentleness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-sansom/never-in-england-were-there-so-many-gentlemen-and-so-little-gentleness/) [C.J. Sansom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-sansom/) > [“If you have feelings for someone, let them know. It doesn’t matter if they can be in your life or not. Maybe, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/if-you-have-feelings-for-someone-let-them-know-it-doesn-t-matter-if/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Books, gentlemen, are a species of men, and introduced to them you circulate in the "very best society" that this world can furnish, without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/books-gentlemen-are-a-species-of-men-and-introduced-to-them-you/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Gentlemen prefer blondes, but take what they can get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-herold/gentlemen-prefer-blondes-but-take-what-they-can-get/) [Don Herold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-herold/) > [The Perfect Gentleman~~~\| ¢ Gives Her One of His T-Shirts to Sleep In, ¢ Give Her One of His Hobbies; To Wear so everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/the-perfect-gentleman-gives-her-one-of-his-t-shirts-to-sleep-in-give/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“And now gentlemen, all for one, one for all - that is our motto, is it not?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-dumas/and-now-gentlemen-all-for-one-one-for-all-that-is-our-motto-is-it-not/) [Alexandre Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-dumas/) > [“Ladies and gentlemen, let us hear the demand of life and adhere to it. It would do us good”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/ladies-and-gentlemen-let-us-hear-the-demand-of-life-and-adhere-to-it/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Smile, but not for long, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Patriarchy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelly-kaplan/smile-but-not-for-long-ladies-and-gentlemen-of-the-patriarchy/) Nelly Kaplan > [“Women, after all, gentlemen,' said the enthusiastic Mr. Snodgrass, 'are the great props and comforts of our existance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/women-after-all-gentlemen-said-the-enthusiastic-mr-snodgrass-are-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Being male is a matter of birth, being a man is a matter of age, but being a gentlemen is a matter of choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-male-is-a-matter-of-birth-being-a-man-is-a-matter-of-age-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gentlemen and maidens in this general vicinity, how doth it go?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-killings/gentlemen-and-maidens-in-this-general-vicinity-how-doth-it-go/) Ron Killings > [The only B word a female should be called is BEAUTIFUL.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-b-word-a-female-should-be-called-is-beautiful/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Gentlemen always walk ladies home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriellyn-gidman/gentlemen-always-walk-ladies-home/) [Gabriellyn Gidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriellyn-gidman/) [Browse all 286 Gentlemen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentlemen/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I assume 'elegant gentlemen,' such as you, learn such useful skills very early in life.\" \"Actually, no.\" Straight-faced, Vane reached for her pins. \"Us rakes-of-the-first-order...\" Dropping pins left and right, he set her hair cascading down. With a satisfied smile, he caught her about the waist and drew her hard against him. \"We,\" he said, looking into her eyes, \"spend our time concentrating on rather different skills- like letting ladies' hair down. And getting them out of their clothes. Getting them into bed. 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