--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When he wasn’t cutting the pitiful figure…" description: "\"“When he wasn’t cutting the pitiful figure of a mourning widower, he was being a downright prick.”\" — Tessa Dare" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/485/tessa-dare-564_grief_when-he-wasn-t-cutting-the-pitiful-figur_436210.png" --- # When he wasn’t cutting the pitiful figure of a mourning… ![“When he wasn’t cutting the pitiful figure of a mourning widower, he was being a downright prick.” quote by Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/485/tessa-dare-564_grief_when-he-wasn-t-cutting-the-pitiful-figur_436210.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/485/tessa-dare-564_grief_when-he-wasn-t-cutting-the-pitiful-figur_436210.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/485/tessa-dare-564_grief_when-he-wasn-t-cutting-the-pitiful-figur_436210.png) > ““When he wasn’t cutting the pitiful figure of a mourning widower, he was being a downright prick.”” [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. The character alternates between compassionate and antagonistic behavior, showing complexity in moral judgment. **In simple terms:** He is sometimes kind, sometimes cruel. Key Takeaway Acknowledge the duality in people. Themes morality character complexity Mood thoughtful critical Type literary character analysis When to use this quote - romance - conflict - personal growth Key Concepts ethical ambiguity character development Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile conflicting traits? - What drives his harshness? A Different Perspective Simplifies nuanced behavior to a binary label. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [Widower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/widower/) ## Related quotes > [“He who marries the spirit of the age will soon become a widower. —Dean William R. Inge”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-k-naugle/he-who-marries-the-spirit-of-the-age-will-soon-become-a-widower-dean/) David K. Naugle > [Whoever marries the spirit of this age will find himself a widower in the next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ralph-inge/whoever-marries-the-spirit-of-this-age-will-find-himself-a-widower-in/) [William Ralph Inge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ralph-inge/) > [“I drift off for a while. I don't know how long, but when I open my eyes, the Oscars are still on and Alex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaui-hart-hemmings/i-drift-off-for-a-while-i-don-t-know-how-long-but-when-i-open-my-eyes/) [Kaui Hart Hemmings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaui-hart-hemmings/) > [“You say you are an orpahn, or a widow or a widower, but when you have lost two sons on the same day, two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathacha-appanah/you-say-you-are-an-orpahn-or-a-widow-or-a-widower-but-when-you-have/) Nathacha Appanah > [I am usually portrayed as a widower, I don't get a wife on any show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alok-nath/i-am-usually-portrayed-as-a-widower-i-don-t-get-a-wife-on-any-show/) [Alok Nath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alok-nath/) > [I should say, one of the things about being a widow or a widower, you really, really need a sense of humor, because everything's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/i-should-say-one-of-the-things-about-being-a-widow-or-a-widower-you/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [“... Saeed's father wept only when he was alone in his room, silently, without tears, his body seized as though by a stutter, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/saeed-s-father-wept-only-when-he-was-alone-in-his-room-silently/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [“He would wake from sleep to miss the weight that never depress the bed next to him, remember in earnest the weight of gestures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/he-would-wake-from-sleep-to-miss-the-weight-that-never-depress-the/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [“Are you a relative of her late husband?” the woman asked. His eyes widened. “I beg your pardon?” “It must be so hard for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-palmer/are-you-a-relative-of-her-late-husband-the-woman-asked-his-eyes/) [Diana Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-palmer/) > [“Why a widow should raise an attractive or pathetic image in one’s mind, or at the worst something rather bold and dashing, while widower…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-thirkell/why-a-widow-should-raise-an-attractive-or-pathetic-image-in-one-s/) [Angela Thirkell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-thirkell/) > [“My wife of more than forty-years shot herself yesterday afternoon. At least that is what the police assume, and I am playing the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-mason/my-wife-of-more-than-forty-years-shot-herself-yesterday-afternoon-at/) Richard Mason > [“At least when you are a widower, everyone expects you to be sad. Annie had loved Natalie like a sister, yet she was expected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bleeker/at-least-when-you-are-a-widower-everyone-expects-you-to-be-sad-annie/) [Emily Bleeker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bleeker/) > [Whoever marries the spirit of the times must soon become a widower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/whoever-marries-the-spirit-of-the-times-must-soon-become-a-widower/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [“Coming back last time to the house she grew up in, Isabel had been reminded of the darkness that had descended with her brothers'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-stedman/coming-back-last-time-to-the-house-she-grew-up-in-isabel-had-been/) [M.L. Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-stedman/) > [Being a widower is not that groovy when you lose someone you really love, and you have to go out and date again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brosnan/being-a-widower-is-not-that-groovy-when-you-lose-someone-you-really/) [Pierce Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brosnan/) ## 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 Grief quotes > [“...they had lived, they'd lived intensely. But no matter how deeply you live, it comes to this in the end: one of you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-morton/they-had-lived-they-d-lived-intensely-but-no-matter-how-deeply-you/) [Brian Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-morton/) > [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/) [Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/) > [You felt a deep sorrow, the kind of melancholy you feel when you're in a beautiful place and the sun is going down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thrity-umrigar/you-felt-a-deep-sorrow-the-kind-of-melancholy-you-feel-when-you-re-in/) [Thrity Umrigar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thrity-umrigar/) > [... how much of our inner substance is it good for us to give to public griefs? The whole modern tendency to agonize over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-bogan/how-much-of-our-inner-substance-is-it-good-for-us-to-give-to-public/) [Louise Bogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bogan/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“When we learn to attribute meaning to the events in our lives, we connect with our Higher Purpose, Higher Wisdom, or Source; we become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-barbara-apollon/when-we-learn-to-attribute-meaning-to-the-events-in-our-lives-we/) [Susan Barbara Apollon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-barbara-apollon/) > [Only to have a grief equal to all these tears!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/only-to-have-a-grief-equal-to-all-these-tears/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [Nowadays most people wear black most of the time anyway: go to a literary party and one would imagine everyone there was in perpetual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/nowadays-most-people-wear-black-most-of-the-time-anyway-go-to-a/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) > [Suppressed grief suffocates, it rages within the breast, and is forced to multiply its strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/suppressed-grief-suffocates-it-rages-within-the-breast-and-is-forced/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [That Woman is in love with her own grief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/that-woman-is-in-love-with-her-own-grief/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [Short time seems long in sorrow's sharp sustaining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/short-time-seems-long-in-sorrow-s-sharp-sustaining/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [These days grief seems like walking on a frozen river; most of the time he feels safe enough, but there is always that danger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/these-days-grief-seems-like-walking-on-a-frozen-river-most-of-the/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [“You've been my beacon of light in my storm of grief, and I don't know if I could live without you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-ashley/you-ve-been-my-beacon-of-light-in-my-storm-of-grief-and-i-don-t-know/) [Katie Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-ashley/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Meanwhile, the trees were just as green as before; the birds sang and the sun shone as clearly now as ever. The familiar surroundings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/meanwhile-the-trees-were-just-as-green-as-before-the-birds-sang-and/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) [Browse all 8,012 Grief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When he wasn’t cutting the pitiful figure of a mourning widower, he was being a downright prick.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tessa Dare" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/when-he-wasn-t-cutting-the-pitiful-figure-of-a-mourning-widower-he/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Grief" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/when-he-wasn-t-cutting-the-pitiful-figure-of-a-mourning-widower-he/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/485/tessa-dare-564_grief_when-he-wasn-t-cutting-the-pitiful-figur_436210.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/485/tessa-dare-564_grief_when-he-wasn-t-cutting-the-pitiful-figur_436210.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/485/tessa-dare-564_grief_when-he-wasn-t-cutting-the-pitiful-figur_436210.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When he wasn’t cutting the pitiful figure of a mourning widower, he was being a downright prick.” — Tessa Dare", "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": "Tessa Dare", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“When he wasn’t cutting the pitiful...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/when-he-wasn-t-cutting-the-pitiful-figure-of-a-mourning-widower-he/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/when-he-wasn-t-cutting-the-pitiful-figure-of-a-mourning-widower-he/#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 } } ] } ```