--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first week of school they spotted him…" description: "\"“The first week of school they spotted him using a tortoise-shell cigarette holder. When he'd overheard some of the boys whispering that he looked like..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0f/susan-elizabeth-phillips-815_quote_the-first-week-of-school-they-spotted-hi_1418558.jpg" --- # The first week of school they spotted him using a… ![“The first week of school they spotted him using a tortoise-shell cigarette holder. When he'd overheard some of the boys whispering that he looked like a queer he'd gazed down his long nose at them and said he regarded that as a compliment since so many of the world's great men had been homosexual…” quote by Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0f/susan-elizabeth-phillips-815_quote_the-first-week-of-school-they-spotted-hi_1418558.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0f/susan-elizabeth-phillips-815_quote_the-first-week-of-school-they-spotted-hi_1418558.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0f/susan-elizabeth-phillips-815_quote_the-first-week-of-school-they-spotted-hi_1418558.jpg) > ““The first week of school they spotted him using a tortoise-shell cigarette holder. When he'd overheard some of the boys whispering that he looked like a queer he'd gazed down his long nose at them and said he regarded that as a compliment since so many of the world's great men had been homosexual. Alas I've been sentenced to a life of mundane heterosexuality. I can only hope a few of you will be more fortunate.”” [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) ## 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 reflects on being judged for perceived sexuality, finding solace in historic queer figures, yet feels resigned to conventional heterosexual life. **In simple terms:** He feels judged for his appearance and uses historical queer role models for comfort, but accepts a conventional life. Key Takeaway Embrace authenticity despite societal expectations. Themes identity acceptance sexuality conformity Mood reflective melancholic Type personal social commentary When to use this quote - school bullying - personal identity formation - coming out - navigating expectations Key Concepts queer history self‑esteem social pressure Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile personal identity with external expectations? - What role do historical figures play in personal self‑acceptance? 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Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-s-hall/) > [A wholesome regard for the memory of the great men of long ago is the best assurance to a people of a continuation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/a-wholesome-regard-for-the-memory-of-the-great-men-of-long-ago-is-the/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [“The origins of great companies inevitably start with the ideas and enterprise of great men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-scott/the-origins-of-great-companies-inevitably-start-with-the-ideas-and/) [Bill Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-scott/) > [“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. 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Your future is in the hands of the Lord.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/you-are-destiny-for-greatness-your-future-is-in-the-hands-of-the-lord/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) ## More by Susan Elizabeth Phillips > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [...I have to tell you that I'm not all that comfortable with the idea of spending the rest of my life sleeping next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/i-have-to-tell-you-that-i-m-not-all-that-comfortable-with-the-idea-of/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [Life sure is easier when you're rich." "And a natural born charmer. Don't forget that part." "How could I?" she retorted. "It's the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/life-sure-is-easier-when-you-re-rich-and-a-natural-born-charmer-don-t/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [For a moment he could have sworn he smelled violets, which was very peculiar, since he had no idea what violets smelled like, except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/for-a-moment-he-could-have-sworn-he-smelled-violets-which-was-very/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [“You're not my matchmaker any longer. But we're still friends, and in the interest of our friendship we need to discuss page thirteen." 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When you do well, they’ll say it’s only because you’re rich and your parents are big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/people-will-always-try-to-steal-your-power-when-you-do-well-they-ll/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [You remind me of someone with a bad toothache who's hitting herself in the head with a hammer to distract herself from the pain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/you-remind-me-of-someone-with-a-bad-toothache-who-s-hitting-herself/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [“And Eth couldn't help looking. It's been years since he's seen a beautiful naked woman in the flesh. I'd be worried about him if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/and-eth-couldn-t-help-looking-it-s-been-years-since-he-s-seen-a/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [“As she gazed into those cool blue eyes, something strange happened in the vicinity of her middle. She suddenly felt like a hungry woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/as-she-gazed-into-those-cool-blue-eyes-something-strange-happened-in/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [Something brushed his leg, and he gazed down into the face of Pippi Tucker. The theme from Jaws raced through his head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/something-brushed-his-leg-and-he-gazed-down-into-the-face-of-pippi/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [“Did you eat my Twinkies?" She gulped. Keeping her eyes glued to the whip, she said, "Exactly what Twinkies are we talking about?" "The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/did-you-eat-my-twinkies-she-gulped-keeping-her-eyes-glued-to-the-whip/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [“Chip, I know you don't understand this, but I'd take it as a personal favor if you'd stop trying to marry your mother off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/chip-i-know-you-don-t-understand-this-but-i-d-take-it-as-a-personal/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [Everybody won’t like everything you write. Some people won’t like anything you write. Get over it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/everybody-won-t-like-everything-you-write-some-people-won-t-like/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [“If I were going to put a price tag on my lady parts, I’d find a more appetizing buyer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/if-i-were-going-to-put-a-price-tag-on-my-lady-parts-i-d-find-a-more/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) [Explore all 337 Susan Elizabeth Phillips quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) ## More Great men quotes > [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [“You are destiny for greatness. 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I'll never forget the last thing he ever said to me. Nor will I ever repeat it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-s-hall/my-father-was-a-really-great-man-i-ll-never-forget-the-last-thing-he/) [John S. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-s-hall/) > [I ruined my hands in the ring. The referee kept stepping on them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hope/i-ruined-my-hands-in-the-ring-the-referee-kept-stepping-on-them/) [Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/) > [No sadder proof can be given by a man of his own littleness than disbelief in great men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/no-sadder-proof-can-be-given-by-a-man-of-his-own-littleness-than/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [First at the outset, let me commend the great men and women of the United States Coast Guard for what they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-fossella/first-at-the-outset-let-me-commend-the-great-men-and-women-of-the/) [Vito Fossella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-fossella/) > [Greatness by nature includes a power, but not a will to power. ... The great man, whether we comprehend him in the most intense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-buber/greatness-by-nature-includes-a-power-but-not-a-will-to-power-the/) [Martin Buber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-buber/) > [Be a pattern to others, and then all will go well; for as a whole city is affected by the licentious passions and vices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/be-a-pattern-to-others-and-then-all-will-go-well-for-as-a-whole-city/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [“Pretty girls lie at the centre of straight culture, dyke culture, fag culture. 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