--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He was not tall; he was rather plump…" description: "\"“He was not tall; he was rather plump; and, in order to combat this tendency, he was fond of taking long strolls on foot; his step was firm, and his fo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f4/victor-hugo-32_bishop_he-was-not-tall-he-was-rather-plump-and_2399568.jpg" --- # He was not tall; he was rather plump; and, in order to… ![“He was not tall; he was rather plump; and, in order to combat this tendency, he was fond of taking long strolls on foot; his step was firm, and his form was but slightly bent, a detail from which we do not pretend to draw any conclusion. Gregory XVI., at the age of eighty, held himself erect and…” quote by Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f4/victor-hugo-32_bishop_he-was-not-tall-he-was-rather-plump-and_2399568.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f4/victor-hugo-32_bishop_he-was-not-tall-he-was-rather-plump-and_2399568.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f4/victor-hugo-32_bishop_he-was-not-tall-he-was-rather-plump-and_2399568.jpg) > ““He was not tall; he was rather plump; and, in order to combat this tendency, he was fond of taking long strolls on foot; his step was firm, and his form was but slightly bent, a detail from which we do not pretend to draw any conclusion. Gregory XVI., at the age of eighty, held himself erect and smiling, which did not prevent him from being a bad bishop.”” [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A description of a bishop’s physical appearance and demeanor, noting his habits and contradictions without drawing moral judgments. **In simple terms:** Physical traits and habits are noted without moral inference. Key Takeaway Observe details without assuming character. Themes appearance habits contradiction Mood neutral observational Type descriptive literary When to use this quote - historical biography - character study - social commentary Key Concepts human nature perception bias Questions to Reflect On - How do physical traits influence our perception of character? - Can we separate habit from moral judgment? A Different Perspective Physical description alone may not reflect true character. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bishop/) [Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gregory/) ## Related quotes > [“As he spoke all tongues, he entered into all hearts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/as-he-spoke-all-tongues-he-entered-into-all-hearts/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Red is an all-embracing colour,' said the bishop. 'How fortunate that those who despise it in a bonnet revere it in a hat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/red-is-an-all-embracing-colour-said-the-bishop-how-fortunate-that/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [In 1815, M. Charles Francois-Bienvenu Myriel was Bishop of D-----. He was a man of seventy-five, and had occupied the bishopric of D----- since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/in-1815-m-charles-francois-bienvenu-myriel-was-bishop-of-d-he-was-a/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Madame Magloire," retorted the Bishop, "you are mistaken. The beautiful is as useful as the useful." He added after a pause, "More so, perhaps.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/madame-magloire-retorted-the-bishop-you-are-mistaken-the-beautiful-is/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [In 1815, M. Charles-Francois-Bienvenu Myriel was Bishop of D—— He was an old man of about seventy-five years of age; he had occupied the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/in-1815-m-charles-francois-bienvenu-myriel-was-bishop-of-d-he-was-an/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“A reflection from this heaven shone upon the bishop. But it was also a luminous transparency, for this heaven was within him: this heaven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/a-reflection-from-this-heaven-shone-upon-the-bishop-but-it-was-also-a/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [That men saw his mask, but the bishop saw his face. That men saw his life, but the bishop saw his conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/that-men-saw-his-mask-but-the-bishop-saw-his-face-that-men-saw-his/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“CHAPTER XII—THE BISHOP WORKS”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/chapter-xii-the-bishop-works/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Gregory, o' my word, we'll not carry coals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/gregory-o-my-word-we-ll-not-carry-coals/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Sometimes thought Liir-his first thought in weeks and weeks-sometimes I hate this marvelous land of ours. It's so much like home, and then it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/sometimes-thought-liir-his-first-thought-in-weeks-and-weeks-sometimes/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“To get girls he had figured out that all you had to do was talk little, the bare minimum, and listen much, without ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sveva-casati-modignani/to-get-girls-he-had-figured-out-that-all-you-had-to-do-was-talk/) Sveva Casati Modignani > [“Directed By: William Wyler Starring: Gregory”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamerson-inc/directed-by-william-wyler-starring-gregory/) Jamerson INC > [The problem for me is that I can't ever really see who Gregory is, any more than I can see what a mirror by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-chandler/the-problem-for-me-is-that-i-can-t-ever-really-see-who-gregory-is-any/) [Elizabeth Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-chandler/) > [It was a damned good thing men couldn’t have children. Gregory took no shame in admitting that the human race would have died out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/it-was-a-damned-good-thing-men-couldn-t-have-children-gregory-took-no/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [Gregory Hines was the most talented man I've ever met or seen. Gregory Hines is one of those people that whenever he talked to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-pierce/gregory-hines-was-the-most-talented-man-i-ve-ever-met-or-seen-gregory/) [Wendell Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-pierce/) ## More by Victor Hugo > [Houses are like the human beings that inhabit them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/houses-are-like-the-human-beings-that-inhabit-them/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“There is still a certain grace in a dead festival. It has been happy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/there-is-still-a-certain-grace-in-a-dead-festival-it-has-been-happy/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“First I loved women, then animals, and now I love stones. They're just as amusing as women and animals and they're much less trecherous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/first-i-loved-women-then-animals-and-now-i-love-stones-they-re-just/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Nature is pitiless; she never withdraws her flowers, her music, her fragrance, and her sunlight from before human cruelty or suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/nature-is-pitiless-she-never-withdraws-her-flowers-her-music-her/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Have courage for the great sorrows of life, and patience for the small ones. And when you have finished your daily task, go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/have-courage-for-the-great-sorrows-of-life-and-patience-for-the-small/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [The peasants of the Asturias believe that in every litter of wolves there is one pup that is killed by the mother for fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/the-peasants-of-the-asturias-believe-that-in-every-litter-of-wolves/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Great blunders are often made, like large ropes, of a multitude of fibres.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/great-blunders-are-often-made-like-large-ropes-of-a-multitude-of/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“For love is like a tree; it grows of itself; it send its roots deep into our being, and often continues to grow green…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/for-love-is-like-a-tree-it-grows-of-itself-it-send-its-roots-deep/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Blacheville smiles with the self-satisfied smugness of a man whose vanity is tickled”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/blacheville-smiles-with-the-self-satisfied-smugness-of-a-man-whose/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Loving in ignorance, she loved with all the more passion. She did not know whether it was good or evil, beneficent or dangerous, necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/loving-in-ignorance-she-loved-with-all-the-more-passion-she-did-not/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/laughter-is-the-sun-that-drives-winter-from-the-human-face/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Our joys have shadows. The perfect smile belongs to God alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/our-joys-have-shadows-the-perfect-smile-belongs-to-god-alone/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“When those we love are in question, our prudence invents every sort of madness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/when-those-we-love-are-in-question-our-prudence-invents-every-sort-of/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Love is a fault; so be it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/love-is-a-fault-so-be-it/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) [Explore all 2,181 Victor Hugo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) ## More Bishop quotes > [“Who among us can claim normalcy, Bishop?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-marusek/who-among-us-can-claim-normalcy-bishop/) [David Marusek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-marusek/) > [Only a good bishop can be sacrificed, a bad bishop can only be lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuri-razuvaev/only-a-good-bishop-can-be-sacrificed-a-bad-bishop-can-only-be-lost/) Yuri Razuvaev > [Once a bishop is appointed, in terms of governance, we are semi-autonomous. It's not like we are branch managers of a bank or something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blase-j-cupich/once-a-bishop-is-appointed-in-terms-of-governance-we-are-semi/) [Blase J. Cupich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blase-j-cupich/) > [“We are like the moon. The moon shines anyway, but it does not produce its own light. It reflects the light illuminated onto its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/we-are-like-the-moon-the-moon-shines-anyway-but-it-does-not-produce/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-antioch/wherever-the-bishop-shall-appear-there-let-the-multitude-also-be-even/) [Ignatius of Antioch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-antioch/) > [“There were many candidates for this office, but none, thought the bishop, of the stuff of which an archdeacon is made. And he went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-nathan/there-were-many-candidates-for-this-office-but-none-thought-the/) [Robert Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-nathan/) > [“CHAPTER XII—THE BISHOP WORKS”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/chapter-xii-the-bishop-works/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [It is important that the Church of London, which has now lost its ruler, should receive for its new bishop a man whose personal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-becket/it-is-important-that-the-church-of-london-which-has-now-lost-its/) [Thomas Becket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-becket/) > [“Does it have a name? All of these fancy magical weapons usually have names." Bishop glared at her. "Yeah. I like to call it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rowen/does-it-have-a-name-all-of-these-fancy-magical-weapons-usually-have/) [Michelle Rowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rowen/) > [I think that the Pope has trust in every bishop that is appointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blase-j-cupich/i-think-that-the-pope-has-trust-in-every-bishop-that-is-appointed/) [Blase J. Cupich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blase-j-cupich/) > [“The Bishop blessed him and helped him to his feet. "May God have mercy on you," he said. And erased him from his heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/the-bishop-blessed-him-and-helped-him-to-his-feet-may-god-have-mercy/) [Gabriel García Márquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [How can a bishop marry? How can he flirt? The most he can say is "I will see you in the vestry after service."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-smith/how-can-a-bishop-marry-how-can-he-flirt-the-most-he-can-say-is-i-will/) [Sydney Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-smith/) > [“Chandler’s “She was blonde enough to make a bishop kick a hole through a stained-glass window”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/chandler-s-she-was-blonde-enough-to-make-a-bishop-kick-a-hole-through/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [“The power of self deception is great in the case of all men, but I incline to think that it is greatest in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hensley-henson/the-power-of-self-deception-is-great-in-the-case-of-all-men-but-i/) Herbert Hensley Henson > [I did think of becoming a priest quite late on, when other boys were thinking of knocking over fences and going out with girls.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-toibin/i-did-think-of-becoming-a-priest-quite-late-on-when-other-boys-were/) [Colm Toibin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-toibin/) [Browse all 108 Bishop quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bishop/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He was not tall; he was rather plump; and, in order to combat this tendency, he was fond of taking long strolls on foot; his step was firm, and his form was but slightly bent, a detail from which we do not pretend to draw any conclusion. 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