--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was chivalrous because she was too…" description: "\"“It was chivalrous because she was too remote for real companionship, so that there was always a kind of chance in one's offering; perhaps she would no..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b38/virginia-woolf-49_friendship_it-was-chivalrous-because-she-was-too-re_718042.jpg" --- # It was chivalrous because she was too remote for real… ![“It was chivalrous because she was too remote for real companionship, so that there was always a kind of chance in one's offering; perhaps she would not perceive it; perhaps she would kindle rapture by a sudden recognition; her distance made such close moments exquisitely sweet. But alas, no humble…” quote by Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b38/virginia-woolf-49_friendship_it-was-chivalrous-because-she-was-too-re_718042.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b38/virginia-woolf-49_friendship_it-was-chivalrous-because-she-was-too-re_718042.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b38/virginia-woolf-49_friendship_it-was-chivalrous-because-she-was-too-re_718042.jpg) > ““It was chivalrous because she was too remote for real companionship, so that there was always a kind of chance in one's offering; perhaps she would not perceive it; perhaps she would kindle rapture by a sudden recognition; her distance made such close moments exquisitely sweet. But alas, no humble friendship however romantic, could give her the sense that we completely shared her thoughts; the nature of them made it hard for anyone to understand; and her sorrow was very lonely. Perhaps one would come into a room unexpectedly and surprise her in tears, and, to one's miserable confusion, she would hide them instantly, and speak ordinary words, as though she did not imagine that one could understand her suffering.”” [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A distant, idealized lover is cherished for the mystery and fleeting intimacy she offers, but true understanding remains elusive, leaving both parties in solitary sorrow. **In simple terms:** A remote lover feels special but is hard to truly know. Key Takeaway Accept that some connections stay mysterious. Themes loneliness idealization misunderstanding Mood melancholy reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - unrequited love - artistic inspiration - personal reflection - emotional isolation Key Concepts romantic longing emotional distance Questions to Reflect On - Can you accept mystery without demanding full understanding? - How does distance shape affection? A Different Perspective The yearning for closeness may never be fulfilled. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chivalrous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chivalrous/) [Companionship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/companionship/) [Companionship Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/companionship-kind-5649051/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Humble Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humble-friendship-5649050/) [Shared Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shared-thoughts-4289589/) ## Related quotes > [“...like two children who had, for the first time, discovered someone who shared their thoughts...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-everett-capps/like-two-children-who-had-for-the-first-time-discovered-someone-who/) [Ronald Everett Capps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-everett-capps/) > [“Oh, get off the cross!” V shouted when I shared my thoughts with her on the phone. “We need the wood!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cupcake-brown/oh-get-off-the-cross-v-shouted-when-i-shared-my-thoughts-with-her-on/) [Cupcake Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cupcake-brown/) > [Many times we've shared our thoughts, but did you ever, ever notice, the kind of thoughts I got?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/many-times-we-ve-shared-our-thoughts-but-did-you-ever-ever-notice-the/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [I've done all these historical epics and chivalrous roles, but there's an odder, quirkier side to me that nobody knows about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orlando-bloom/i-ve-done-all-these-historical-epics-and-chivalrous-roles-but-there-s/) [Orlando Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orlando-bloom/) > [“Sad but true that nothing puts a woman in her place more effectively than a chivalrous gesture performed in a certain manner.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-barker/sad-but-true-that-nothing-puts-a-woman-in-her-place-more-effectively/) [Pat Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-barker/) > [“What a loss it would be if feminism killed chivalry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-rachelle/what-a-loss-it-would-be-if-feminism-killed-chivalry/) [Joyce Rachelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-rachelle/) > [“After all of this you're still 'Rayhan the Chivalrous', full of hope and optimism?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-carlton/after-all-of-this-you-re-still-rayhan-the-chivalrous-full-of-hope-and/) [Elizabeth Carlton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-carlton/) > [“I know you can take care of yourself," he said, with absolute certainty. His vivid eyes probed hers. With the same underlying resolve, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-n-blount/i-know-you-can-take-care-of-yourself-he-said-with-absolute-certainty/) [Angela N. Blount](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-n-blount/) > [As for this young Ali, one cannot but like him. A noble-minded creature, as he shows himself, now and always afterwards; full of affection,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/as-for-this-young-ali-one-cannot-but-like-him-a-noble-minded-creature/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [“All—all right," she said, looking dubiously at the chair. "I—um, I need to change, though." "I'll just wait in the hall." He straightened his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/all-all-right-she-said-looking-dubiously-at-the-chair-i-um-i-need-to/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“Respect our strength.” “I do.” His hair fell in his eyes, and he tried to blow it away. “Being chivalrous is respectful. Women have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/respect-our-strength-i-do-his-hair-fell-in-his-eyes-and-he-tried-to/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [When a chivalrous man makes an oath, he is faithful to it, and when he attains power, he spares his enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/when-a-chivalrous-man-makes-an-oath-he-is-faithful-to-it-and-when-he/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [“What are some of the things a modern-day knight can do to render service? A chivalrous person will exhibit thoughtful consideration to most everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/what-are-some-of-the-things-a-modern-day-knight-can-do-to-render/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [Let no one who has the slightest desire to live in peace and quietness be tempted, under any circumstances, to enter upon the chivalrous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-thoms/let-no-one-who-has-the-slightest-desire-to-live-in-peace-and/) [William Thoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-thoms/) > [You cannot have a proud and chivalrous spirit if your conduct is mean and paltry; for whatever a man's actions are, such must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demosthenes/you-cannot-have-a-proud-and-chivalrous-spirit-if-your-conduct-is-mean/) [Demosthenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demosthenes/) ## More by Virginia Woolf > [Fatigue is the safest sleeping draught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/fatigue-is-the-safest-sleeping-draught/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“The train slows and lengthens, as we approach London, the centre, and my heart draws out too, in fear, in exaltation. I am about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/the-train-slows-and-lengthens-as-we-approach-london-the-centre-and-my/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“Across the broad continent of a woman's life falls the shadow of a sword. On one side all is correct, definite, orderly; the paths…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/across-the-broad-continent-of-a-woman-s-life-falls-the-shadow-of-a/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“Other worshipful objects were content with worship; men, women, God, all let one kneel prostrate; but this form, were it only the shape of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/other-worshipful-objects-were-content-with-worship-men-women-god-all/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [Why does Samuel Butler say, 'Wise men never say what they think of women'? Wise men never say anything else apparently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/why-does-samuel-butler-say-wise-men-never-say-what-they-think-of/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“Sometimes he woke with a brain like lead; at others it was as if a thousand wax tapers were alight and people were throwing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/sometimes-he-woke-with-a-brain-like-lead-at-others-it-was-as-if-a/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [The extraordinary woman depends on the ordinary woman. It is only when we know what were the conditions of the average woman's life -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/the-extraordinary-woman-depends-on-the-ordinary-woman-it-is-only-when/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [A veil of insanity everywhere: Oh why I was born in this age? It is a terrible age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/a-veil-of-insanity-everywhere-oh-why-i-was-born-in-this-age-it-is-a/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [Love ought to stop on both sides, don’t you think, simultaneously?’ He spoke without any stress on the words, so as not to wake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/love-ought-to-stop-on-both-sides-don-t-you-think-simultaneously-he/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“It is so vast an alleviation to be able to point for another to look at. And then not to talk. To follow the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/it-is-so-vast-an-alleviation-to-be-able-to-point-for-another-to-look/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“What a vast fertility of pleasure books hold for me! (...) I think I could happily live here & read forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/what-a-vast-fertility-of-pleasure-books-hold-for-me-i-think-i-could/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“what a luxury to be alone once more,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/what-a-luxury-to-be-alone-once-more/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“...a woman writing thinks back through her mothers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/a-woman-writing-thinks-back-through-her-mothers/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“For one's children so often gave one's own perceptions a little thrust forwards.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/for-one-s-children-so-often-gave-one-s-own-perceptions-a-little/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“She would not say of anyone in the world now that they were this or were that. She felt very young; at the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/she-would-not-say-of-anyone-in-the-world-now-that-they-were-this-or/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) [Explore all 1,872 Virginia Woolf quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) ## More Chivalrous quotes > [You cannot have a proud and chivalrous spirit if your conduct is mean and paltry; for whatever a man's actions are, such must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demosthenes/you-cannot-have-a-proud-and-chivalrous-spirit-if-your-conduct-is-mean/) [Demosthenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demosthenes/) > [Let no one who has the slightest desire to live in peace and quietness be tempted, under any circumstances, to enter upon the chivalrous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-thoms/let-no-one-who-has-the-slightest-desire-to-live-in-peace-and/) [William Thoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-thoms/) > [“What are some of the things a modern-day knight can do to render service? A chivalrous person will exhibit thoughtful consideration to most everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/what-are-some-of-the-things-a-modern-day-knight-can-do-to-render/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [When a chivalrous man makes an oath, he is faithful to it, and when he attains power, he spares his enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/when-a-chivalrous-man-makes-an-oath-he-is-faithful-to-it-and-when-he/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [“Respect our strength.” “I do.” His hair fell in his eyes, and he tried to blow it away. “Being chivalrous is respectful. Women have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/respect-our-strength-i-do-his-hair-fell-in-his-eyes-and-he-tried-to/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“All—all right," she said, looking dubiously at the chair. "I—um, I need to change, though." "I'll just wait in the hall." He straightened his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/all-all-right-she-said-looking-dubiously-at-the-chair-i-um-i-need-to/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [As for this young Ali, one cannot but like him. A noble-minded creature, as he shows himself, now and always afterwards; full of affection,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/as-for-this-young-ali-one-cannot-but-like-him-a-noble-minded-creature/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [“I know you can take care of yourself," he said, with absolute certainty. His vivid eyes probed hers. With the same underlying resolve, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-n-blount/i-know-you-can-take-care-of-yourself-he-said-with-absolute-certainty/) [Angela N. Blount](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-n-blount/) > [“After all of this you're still 'Rayhan the Chivalrous', full of hope and optimism?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-carlton/after-all-of-this-you-re-still-rayhan-the-chivalrous-full-of-hope-and/) [Elizabeth Carlton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-carlton/) > [“What a loss it would be if feminism killed chivalry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-rachelle/what-a-loss-it-would-be-if-feminism-killed-chivalry/) [Joyce Rachelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-rachelle/) > [“Sad but true that nothing puts a woman in her place more effectively than a chivalrous gesture performed in a certain manner.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-barker/sad-but-true-that-nothing-puts-a-woman-in-her-place-more-effectively/) [Pat Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-barker/) > [I've done all these historical epics and chivalrous roles, but there's an odder, quirkier side to me that nobody knows about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orlando-bloom/i-ve-done-all-these-historical-epics-and-chivalrous-roles-but-there-s/) [Orlando Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orlando-bloom/) > [“Mordecai allowed a smile to play across his face. “I have little doubt this ploy will try your patience. You must present Sir Percival…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-elliott/mordecai-allowed-a-smile-to-play-across-his-face-i-have-little-doubt/) [Elizabeth Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-elliott/) > [We live in a decaying society of morality, which bugs me on a daily basis. I consider myself one of the last chivalrous white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-buffer/we-live-in-a-decaying-society-of-morality-which-bugs-me-on-a-daily/) [Bruce Buffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-buffer/) > [Many heroic exploits and chivalrous adventures are related to me which exist only in the regions of fancy. With me the world has taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-boone/many-heroic-exploits-and-chivalrous-adventures-are-related-to-me/) [Daniel Boone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-boone/) [Browse all 34 Chivalrous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chivalrous/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It was chivalrous because she was too remote for real companionship, so that there was always a kind of chance in one's offering; perhaps she would not perceive it; perhaps she would kindle rapture by a sudden recognition; her distance made such close moments exquisitely sweet. But alas, no humble friendship however romantic, could give her the sense that we completely shared her thoughts; the nature of them made it hard for anyone to understand; and her sorrow was very lonely. 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