--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Minerva considered herself a reasonably…" description: "\"“Minerva considered herself a reasonably intelligent person, but good heavens . . . handsome men made her stupid. She grew so flustered around them, ne..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/tessa-dare-564_handsome-men_minerva-considered-herself-a-reasonably_847732.jpg" --- # Minerva considered herself a reasonably intelligent… ![“Minerva considered herself a reasonably intelligent person, but good heavens . . . handsome men made her stupid. She grew so flustered around them, never knew where to look or what to say. The reply meant to be witty and clever would come out sounding bitter or lame. Sometimes a teasing remark…” quote by Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/tessa-dare-564_handsome-men_minerva-considered-herself-a-reasonably_847732.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/tessa-dare-564_handsome-men_minerva-considered-herself-a-reasonably_847732.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3a/tessa-dare-564_handsome-men_minerva-considered-herself-a-reasonably_847732.jpg) > ““Minerva considered herself a reasonably intelligent person, but good heavens . . . handsome men made her stupid. She grew so flustered around them, never knew where to look or what to say. The reply meant to be witty and clever would come out sounding bitter or lame. Sometimes a teasing remark from Lord Payne’s quarter quelled her into dumb silence altogether. Only days later, while she was banging away at a cliff face with a rock hammer, would the perfect retort spring to mind.”” [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Minerva is confident in her intellect but becomes tongue‑tied and self‑critical around attractive men, losing her wit until she later regains it in solitude. **In simple terms:** Handsome men make her feel stupid, but she recovers her sharpness when alone. Key Takeaway Seek calm spaces to restore confidence. Themes confidence gender dynamics social anxiety self‑esteem communication Mood anxious reflective hopeful Type personal observational narrative When to use this quote - dating - public speaking - work presentations - creative writing Key Concepts self‑doubt performance pressure solitude as catalyst Questions to Reflect On - How do you reclaim your voice after feeling intimidated? - What environments help you think clearly? A Different Perspective Even alone, pressure can persist if internalized. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Handsome men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/handsome-men/) [Intelligent person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligent-person/) [Meant Witty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meant-witty-714947/) [Minerva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minerva/) [Minerva Considered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minerva-considered-714946/) [Teasing Remark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teasing-remark-714948/) [Witty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witty/) ## Related quotes > [He had to feel those lips on him again. Had. To. This wasn’t a mild expression of preference. This was an imperative. His body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/he-had-to-feel-those-lips-on-him-again-had-to-this-wasn-t-a-mild/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [Before I found Minerva, I'd passed nights with more than my share of women." Thorne groaned. Don't. Just don't. "I've passed time with duchesses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/before-i-found-minerva-i-d-passed-nights-with-more-than-my-share-of/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“Minerva didn't want to converse right now. She just wanted... deeper. Harder. More. She caught his earlobe between her teeth and growled, spreading her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/minerva-didn-t-want-to-converse-right-now-she-just-wanted-deeper/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“Today, all her mother's judgements had been proved false. She wasn't plain, but pretty. She wasn't distracted and awkward, but confident and a crack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/today-all-her-mother-s-judgements-had-been-proved-false-she-wasn-t/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [The words burned on her tongue, but Minerva couldn’t give them voice. What a hopeless coward she was. She could pound on his door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/the-words-burned-on-her-tongue-but-minerva-couldn-t-give-them-voice/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [Jesus. Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene. Delilah, Jezebel, Salome, Judith, Eve. Trouble, every last one. Add Minerva Highwood to the list.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/jesus-jesus-christ-and-mary-magdalene-delilah-jezebel-salome-judith/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [The owl of Minerva spreads its wings only with the falling of the dusk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-owl-of-minerva-spreads-its-wings-only-with-the-falling-of-the-dusk/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [I liked that Larry King didn't know who Minerva was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/i-liked-that-larry-king-didn-t-know-who-minerva-was/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [So,” sneered Fudge, recovering himself, “you intend to take on Dawlish, Shacklebolt, Dolores, and myself single-handed, do you, Dumbledore?” “Merlin’s beard, no,” said Dumbledore,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-sneered-fudge-recovering-himself-you-intend-to-take-on-dawlish/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [O you virtuous owle, The wise Minerva's only fowle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/o-you-virtuous-owle-the-wise-minerva-s-only-fowle/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [He was too good to be Where ill men were, and was the best of all Amongst the rar'st of good ones- sitting sadly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/he-was-too-good-to-be-where-ill-men-were-and-was-the-best-of-all/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the Supreme Being as his father, in the womb of a virgin, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-day-will-come-when-the-mystical-generation-of-jesus-by-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“He turned to Miss Minerva. "I'm relying on you, at any rate. You've got a good mind. Anybody can see that." "Thank you," she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-derr-biggers/he-turned-to-miss-minerva-i-m-relying-on-you-at-any-rate-you-ve-got-a/) [Earl Derr Biggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-derr-biggers/) > [Humor is the offspring of man; it comes forth like Minerva, fully armed from the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-l-estrange/humor-is-the-offspring-of-man-it-comes-forth-like-minerva-fully-armed/) [Roger L'Estrange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-l-estrange/) > [“I merely don't like drafts, or servants falling and breaking their ankles, making them incapable of serving me." "I understand completely." Her gaze held…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-jeffries/i-merely-don-t-like-drafts-or-servants-falling-and-breaking-their/) [Sabrina Jeffries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-jeffries/) ## More by Tessa Dare > [“This explains so much," she said, clucking her tongue in mother-hen fashion. "You're compensating for this withered appendage." Withered appendage? What the devil was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/this-explains-so-much-she-said-clucking-her-tongue-in-mother-hen/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“You think a few features scattered on your face make you plain? I am ugly to the core. All England knows it. And after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/you-think-a-few-features-scattered-on-your-face-make-you-plain-i-am/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“I’d be more than happy to let you survey my physical perfection in its entirety. But only if I get to see you, too.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/i-d-be-more-than-happy-to-let-you-survey-my-physical-perfection-in/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“Words for everyday showers of prettiness, and the kind of misty loveliness that disappears whenever you try to grasp it. Beauty that’s heralded by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/words-for-everyday-showers-of-prettiness-and-the-kind-of-misty/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“ The captain? Sophia stood staring numbly after him. Had he just said he’d introduce her to the captain? Of someone else was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/the-captain-sophia-stood-staring-numbly-after-him-had-he-just-said-he/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“Madeline stood before him in a gown of rich, emerald-green silk. The low-cut bodice did miraculous things for her bosom, and the vibrant color…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/madeline-stood-before-him-in-a-gown-of-rich-emerald-green-silk-the/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“And she was well-enough acquainted with loneliness to understand that the worst part wasn't having nobody caring for you - it was having nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/and-she-was-well-enough-acquainted-with-loneliness-to-understand-that/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“He stood in the doorway to a side chamber, bared to the waist and dripping. He propped one shoulder against the doorway and clutched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/he-stood-in-the-doorway-to-a-side-chamber-bared-to-the-waist-and/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“And you claim to be feeling this way. Floatish. Singsong-ish. About me.” She sighed. “Yes.” “That’s absurd.” “I know, but I can’t seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/and-you-claim-to-be-feeling-this-way-floatish-singsong-ish-about-me/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“No, of course she didn't say it. But there is no other reason she should have called, except to pave the way for her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/no-of-course-she-didn-t-say-it-but-there-is-no-other-reason-she/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“And there it was. The prim face of censure he’d been seeking. A strange sense of satisfaction descended on him. Divine justice, perhaps. Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/and-there-it-was-the-prim-face-of-censure-he-d-been-seeking-a-strange/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“Another sketch-this one of Gabriel-hung on the all above the water cask. It swiveled gently on a single tack; or rather, the paper hung…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/another-sketch-this-one-of-gabriel-hung-on-the-all-above-the-water/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“I know what you’re thinking, Gray,” O’Shea’s brogue lilted down through the skylight one warm morning, while Sophia was hard at work. Mr. Grayson…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/i-know-what-you-re-thinking-gray-o-shea-s-brogue-lilted-down-through/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“The path was a familiar one. Over the years she’d resided in Spindle Cove, Susanna must have walked it thousands of times. She knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/the-path-was-a-familiar-one-over-the-years-she-d-resided-in-spindle/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“Miss Finch, it’s not wise for officers to quarter in the same house with an unmarried gentlewoman. Have a care for your reputation, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/miss-finch-it-s-not-wise-for-officers-to-quarter-in-the-same-house/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) [Explore all 472 Tessa Dare quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) ## More Handsome men quotes > [You've heard tales of beauty and the beast. How a fair maid falls in love with a monster and sees the beauty of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-maitland/you-ve-heard-tales-of-beauty-and-the-beast-how-a-fair-maid-falls-in/) [Karen Maitland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-maitland/) > [“Amaranta would sigh, laugh, and dream of a second homeland of handsome men and beautiful women who spoke a childlike language, with ancient cities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/amaranta-would-sigh-laugh-and-dream-of-a-second-homeland-of-handsome/) [Gabriel García Márquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [I don't look as handsome in Men in Black 2 as I did in the first one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-shalhoub/i-don-t-look-as-handsome-in-men-in-black-2-as-i-did-in-the-first-one/) [Tony Shalhoub](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-shalhoub/) > [Do you see these hands?" Jo said, holding them up. "These were made for caressing handsome men and meant to be adorned with pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/do-you-see-these-hands-jo-said-holding-them-up-these-were-made-for/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“In the end, democracy gives us popular and handsome men, not geniuses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/in-the-end-democracy-gives-us-popular-and-handsome-men-not-geniuses/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [Every handsome man had a flaw. It was just her luck that in William's case that flaw was lunacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/every-handsome-man-had-a-flaw-it-was-just-her-luck-that-in-william-s/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [“Rarely do very handsome men allow their faces to run around without a leash. I am not very handsome, but I am above-average handsome,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/rarely-do-very-handsome-men-allow-their-faces-to-run-around-without-a/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [Robert Redford used to be such a handsome man and now look at him: everything has dropped, expanded and turned a funny color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-best/robert-redford-used-to-be-such-a-handsome-man-and-now-look-at-him/) [George Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-best/) > [The best accessory for a woman - handsome man!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-chanel/the-best-accessory-for-a-woman-handsome-man/) [Coco Chanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-chanel/) > [“Her parties are always the best. She gets the top shelf liquor and plays only eighties music, which is fine by me. Dancing drunk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarryn-fisher/her-parties-are-always-the-best-she-gets-the-top-shelf-liquor-and/) [Tarryn Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarryn-fisher/) > [I'm a very, very handsome man, and have had to come to terms with it... um, do I like the way I look? In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brydon/i-m-a-very-very-handsome-man-and-have-had-to-come-to-terms-with-it-um/) [Rob Brydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brydon/) > [“He's a very handsome man, is the captain," said Jeaneatte. . . "You shouldn't think about handsome men, child," said Mrs. Greenow. "And I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/he-s-a-very-handsome-man-is-the-captain-said-jeaneatte-you-shouldn-t/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [To walk down the aisle and see all my friends and family and to see my handsome man standin' there, and to know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-knowles/to-walk-down-the-aisle-and-see-all-my-friends-and-family-and-to-see/) [Tina Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-knowles/) > [In terms of style I typically veer toward a certain masculinity. My style inspirations range from images of my father in his 1970s suits,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-taylor/in-terms-of-style-i-typically-veer-toward-a-certain-masculinity-my/) [Rachael Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-taylor/) > [His fair landlady was in despair. She would most willingly have made M. d'Artagnan her husband--such a handsome man, and such a fierce mustache!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-dumas/his-fair-landlady-was-in-despair-she-would-most-willingly-have-made-m/) [Alexandre Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-dumas/) [Browse all 64 Handsome men quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/handsome-men/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Minerva considered herself a reasonably intelligent person, but good heavens . . . handsome men made her stupid. She grew so flustered around them, never knew where to look or what to say. The reply meant to be witty and clever would come out sounding bitter or lame. Sometimes a teasing remark from Lord Payne’s quarter quelled her into dumb silence altogether. 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