--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: She was quite pretty too in those days…" description: "\"“She was quite pretty too in those days; indeed, perhaps she still was. But for some reason none of her boyfriends remained boyfriends for long. She ha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20b/vikram-seth-4208_sooner-or-later_she-was-quite-pretty-too-in-those-days-i_2200292.jpg" --- # She was quite pretty too in those days; indeed, perhaps… ![“She was quite pretty too in those days; indeed, perhaps she still was. But for some reason none of her boyfriends remained boyfriends for long. She had a very decided personality and fairly soon took to telling them what they should do with their lives and studies and work. She began to mother…” quote by Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20b/vikram-seth-4208_sooner-or-later_she-was-quite-pretty-too-in-those-days-i_2200292.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20b/vikram-seth-4208_sooner-or-later_she-was-quite-pretty-too-in-those-days-i_2200292.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20b/vikram-seth-4208_sooner-or-later_she-was-quite-pretty-too-in-those-days-i_2200292.jpg) > ““She was quite pretty too in those days; indeed, perhaps she still was. But for some reason none of her boyfriends remained boyfriends for long. She had a very decided personality and fairly soon took to telling them what they should do with their lives and studies and work. She began to mother them or perhaps brother them (since she was something of a tomboy) - and this sooner or later took the edge off their romantic excitement. They even began to find her vivacity over-powering, and sooner or later edged away from her - with guilt on their side and pain on hers. This was a great pity, for Kalpana Gaur was a lively, affectionate, and intelligent woman, and deserved some recompense for the help and happiness she gave others”” [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A vibrant, controlling personality can both help and overwhelm loved ones, leading to mixed outcomes. **In simple terms:** Strong personalities can aid and overwhelm others. Key Takeaway Balance guidance with respect for autonomy. Themes relationships personality control support guilt Mood thoughtful empathetic Type literary psychological When to use this quote - friendships - romantic relationships - family ties Key Concepts interpersonal dynamics emotional intelligence boundaries growth Questions to Reflect On - How do you offer help without dominating? - When does guidance become control? A Different Perspective Overbearing help can cause resentment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affectionate Intelligent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affectionate-intelligent-4830263/) [Intelligent Woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligent-woman/) [Kalpana Gaur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kalpana-gaur-4830262/) [Lively Affectionate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lively-affectionate-4830264/) [Pity Kalpana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity-kalpana-4830261/) [Sooner or later](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sooner-or-later/) [Woman Deserved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woman-deserved-1854768/) ## Related quotes > [“No woman deserved to have a man put his hands on her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valenciya-lyons/no-woman-deserved-to-have-a-man-put-his-hands-on-her/) [Valenciya Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valenciya-lyons/) > [Woman deserved to be like as what you can see to us not as what your eyes like to be see..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaymie-gassner/woman-deserved-to-be-like-as-what-you-can-see-to-us-not-as-what-your/) [Jaymie Gassner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaymie-gassner/) > [“You are far from bloodless,” he said into her ear. “On the contrary. You stick your chin out and practically invite people to bash…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-duran/you-are-far-from-bloodless-he-said-into-her-ear-on-the-contrary-you/) [Meredith Duran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-duran/) > [Don't be silly. I'm a mature, intelligent woman. Of course I'm afraid of my mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-kerr/don-t-be-silly-i-m-a-mature-intelligent-woman-of-course-i-m-afraid-of/) [Jean Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-kerr/) > [“You are a beautiful, intelligent woman with a boyfriend who adores you. You have nothing to fear ever - Kellan Kyle”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-c-stephens/you-are-a-beautiful-intelligent-woman-with-a-boyfriend-who-adores-you/) [S.C. Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-c-stephens/) > [“She was one in a million, Tyler was. A strong, intelligent woman with the beauty to launch ships and the courage to follow them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-hooper/she-was-one-in-a-million-tyler-was-a-strong-intelligent-woman-with/) [Kay Hooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-hooper/) > [“We choose our friends on the basis of, among other things, our conception of ourselves. That's not to say that friendship is narcissistic, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-solomon/we-choose-our-friends-on-the-basis-of-among-other-things-our/) [Robert C. Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-solomon/) > [An untidy, badly run house will ruin any marriage and is a disgrace to any intelligent woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-henniker-heaton/an-untidy-badly-run-house-will-ruin-any-marriage-and-is-a-disgrace-to/) [Rose Henniker Heaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-henniker-heaton/) > [“a beautiful, intelligent woman with a body like Salome and a mouth like a saltwater crocodile.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-johnson/a-beautiful-intelligent-woman-with-a-body-like-salome-and-a-mouth/) [Craig Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-johnson/) > [Hillary Clinton's a highly intelligent woman, hard-working, she's dedicated her life to public service, but unfortunately, she does not have a track record of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/hillary-clinton-s-a-highly-intelligent-woman-hard-working-she-s/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [“I am a beautiful and intelligent woman. Anything I touch will turn to gold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeyn-roberts/i-am-a-beautiful-and-intelligent-woman-anything-i-touch-will-turn-to/) [Jeyn Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeyn-roberts/) > [“An intelligent woman with allies can accomplish anything”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-plant/an-intelligent-woman-with-allies-can-accomplish-anything/) [Margaret Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-plant/) > [If I were to publicly give away my secrets, I'd be dumb. I am an intelligent woman who is focused on the prize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-royce/if-i-were-to-publicly-give-away-my-secrets-i-d-be-dumb-i-am-an/) [Peyton Royce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-royce/) > [“My brother trolled recovery and support groups, searching for women with dependency issues, the way I frequented bookstores with the hope of finding a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-o-brien/my-brother-trolled-recovery-and-support-groups-searching-for-women/) [Richard J. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-o-brien/) > [“It’s an intelligent woman who prepares in advance for any mishaps by ordering a drink the same color as her dress.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-sloan/it-s-an-intelligent-woman-who-prepares-in-advance-for-any-mishaps-by/) [Brenda Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-sloan/) ## More by Vikram Seth > [Realism hasn't fallen out of favor with most people, who are interested in people's lives rather than gymnastics of style or literary trends. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/realism-hasn-t-fallen-out-of-favor-with-most-people-who-are/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [I don't think anyone should be banned. If you don't like a book, set it aside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/i-don-t-think-anyone-should-be-banned-if-you-don-t-like-a-book-set-it/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [It's not the gods But our own hearts We need to fear. The evil starts Against all odds Not there but here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/it-s-not-the-gods-but-our-own-hearts-we-need-to-fear-the-evil-starts/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“But what should I do?' Varun was saying. 'I'm not good for anything.' 'Write a book! Pull a rickshaw! Live! Don't make excuses,' said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/but-what-should-i-do-varun-was-saying-i-m-not-good-for-anything-write/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“In a clear brook With joyful haste The whimsical trout Shot past me like an arrow I play the line of the song, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/in-a-clear-brook-with-joyful-haste-the-whimsical-trout-shot-past-me/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [Boredom provides a stronger inclination to write than anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/boredom-provides-a-stronger-inclination-to-write-than-anything/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [I don't think people give Indian society enough credit. We may not like to talk much about things but we do, basically, want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/i-don-t-think-people-give-indian-society-enough-credit-we-may-not/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [The problem with too beautiful a view is that it's alright for the mulling stage. But for the writing stage, you want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/the-problem-with-too-beautiful-a-view-is-that-it-s-alright-for-the/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“Romantic retrospect aside, the night spent in the truck is distinctly unpleasant. We are cramped and cold. The much-vaunted heating of the truck is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/romantic-retrospect-aside-the-night-spent-in-the-truck-is-distinctly/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [Is it not love that knows how to make smooth things rough and rough things smooth?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/is-it-not-love-that-knows-how-to-make-smooth-things-rough-and-rough/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“Well, what do you think? Avanti?" "Avanti," cries everyone, and, after a few quick re-tunings of our instruments, and re-initialisings of our hearts, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/well-what-do-you-think-avanti-avanti-cries-everyone-and-after-a-few/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [Behind every door on every ordinary street, in every hut in every ordinary village in this middling planet of a trivial star, such riches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/behind-every-door-on-every-ordinary-street-in-every-hut-in-every/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“Perhaps it is true that for all the evidence of the mirror, one pictures oneself in some deep niche of the mind as forever 18.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/perhaps-it-is-true-that-for-all-the-evidence-of-the-mirror-one/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [What is the difference between my life and my love? One gets me low, the other lets me go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/what-is-the-difference-between-my-life-and-my-love-one-gets-me-low/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“The past is the past, and he can't make amends, only hope that the gain will outlast the damage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/the-past-is-the-past-and-he-can-t-make-amends-only-hope-that-the-gain/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) [Explore all 113 Vikram Seth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) ## More Sooner or later quotes > [Unchecked, the new tolerance will sooner or later put many people in chains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/unchecked-the-new-tolerance-will-sooner-or-later-put-many-people-in/) [D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) > [The universe is simmering down, like a giant stew left to cook for four billion years. Sooner or later we won’t be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-bloch/the-universe-is-simmering-down-like-a-giant-stew-left-to-cook-for/) [Arthur Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-bloch/) > [As much as I want to stay on the team -- I love Chicago, I love the Bulls -- at the same time, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/as-much-as-i-want-to-stay-on-the-team-i-love-chicago-i-love-the-bulls/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [“It hardly needs to be said: sooner or later secrets have a way of making themselves known.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-morton/it-hardly-needs-to-be-said-sooner-or-later-secrets-have-a-way-of/) [Kate Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-morton/) > [The whole secret to mastering the game of golf - and this applies to the beginner as well as the pro - is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/the-whole-secret-to-mastering-the-game-of-golf-and-this-applies-to/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [“Sooner or later, however, we must realise there is no station in this life, no one earthly place to arrive once and for all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hastings/sooner-or-later-however-we-must-realise-there-is-no-station-in-this/) [Robert Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hastings/) > [“The instinct to survive is human nature itself, and every aspect of our personalities derives from it. Anything that conflicts with the survival instinct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/the-instinct-to-survive-is-human-nature-itself-and-every-aspect-of/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Never tear your woman down or never let her cry because sooner or later she'll be saying goodbye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-tear-your-woman-down-or-never-let-her-cry-because-sooner-or/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“What you don't ever catch a glimpse of on your wedding day - because how could you? - is that some days you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/what-you-don-t-ever-catch-a-glimpse-of-on-your-wedding-day-because/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [Once upon a time we were just plain people. But that was before we began having relationships with mechanical systems. Get involved with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/once-upon-a-time-we-were-just-plain-people-but-that-was-before-we/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [Sooner or later they are going to live in a New York City where gay marriage is not only legal, but it's common and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-weiner/sooner-or-later-they-are-going-to-live-in-a-new-york-city-where-gay/) [Anthony Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-weiner/) > [“It is idle to talk always of the alternative of reason and faith. Reason is itself a matter of faith. It is an act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/it-is-idle-to-talk-always-of-the-alternative-of-reason-and-faith/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [You put together two people who have not been put together before. 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But as a writer, I believe that if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-blount-jr/i-think-writer-s-block-is-simply-the-dread-that-you-are-going-to/) [Roy Blount, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-blount-jr/) [Browse all 1,702 Sooner or later quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sooner-or-later/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“She was quite pretty too in those days; indeed, perhaps she still was. But for some reason none of her boyfriends remained boyfriends for long. She had a very decided personality and fairly soon took to telling them what they should do with their lives and studies and work. She began to mother them or perhaps brother them (since she was something of a tomboy) - and this sooner or later took the edge off their romantic excitement. They even began to find her vivacity over-powering, and sooner or later edged away from her - with guilt on their side and pain on hers. 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