--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: She remembered how, as a young man, she…" description: "\"“She remembered how, as a young man, she had insisted that women must be obedient, chaste, scented, and exquisitely apparelled. \"Now I shall have to pa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81a/virginia-woolf-49_desire_she-remembered-how-as-a-young-man-she-ha_771267.jpg" --- # She remembered how, as a young man, she had insisted that… ![“She remembered how, as a young man, she had insisted that women must be obedient, chaste, scented, and exquisitely apparelled. "Now I shall have to pay in my own person for those desires," she reflected; "for women are not (judging by my own short experience of the sex) obedient, chaste, scented…” quote by Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81a/virginia-woolf-49_desire_she-remembered-how-as-a-young-man-she-ha_771267.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81a/virginia-woolf-49_desire_she-remembered-how-as-a-young-man-she-ha_771267.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81a/virginia-woolf-49_desire_she-remembered-how-as-a-young-man-she-ha_771267.jpg) > ““She remembered how, as a young man, she had insisted that women must be obedient, chaste, scented, and exquisitely apparelled. "Now I shall have to pay in my own person for those desires," she reflected; "for women are not (judging by my own short experience of the sex) obedient, chaste, scented, and exquisitely apparelled by nature. They can only attain these graces, without which they may enjoy none of the delights of life, by the most tedious discipline. There's the hairdressing," she thought, "that alone will take an hour of my morning, there's looking in the looking-glass, another hour; there's staying and lacing; there's washing and powdering; there's changing from silk to lace and from lace to paduasoy; there's being chaste year in and year out...”” [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. The narrator reflects on societal expectations of women to be obedient, chaste, and aesthetically perfect, realizing these ideals are unattainable without exhaustive daily rituals. **In simple terms:** Women are pressured to maintain impossible standards of behavior and appearance. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge unrealistic gender expectations. Themes gender expectations societal pressure self-discipline appearance feminism Mood reflective critical thoughtful Type observational philosophical feminist When to use this quote - personal grooming routines - social interactions - career advancement - self-care practices - public speaking Key Concepts Patriarchal norms self-identity performance beauty standards Questions to Reflect On - How do you resist imposed standards? - What daily habits reflect your authentic self? A Different Perspective The quote assumes all women share the same desire for conformity, ignoring individual agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chaste Scented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chaste-scented-5961019/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Discipline Hairdressing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline-hairdressing-5961017/) [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Hairdressing Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hairdressing-thought-5961015/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Nature of Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-beauty/) [Obedient Chaste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obedient-chaste-5961018/) [Orlando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orlando/) [Sexism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexism/) [Women Obedient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-obedient-5961016/) [Young man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-man/) ## Related quotes > [“Love had meant nothing to him but sawdust and cinders.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/love-had-meant-nothing-to-him-but-sawdust-and-cinders/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [Orlando naturally loved solitary places, vast views, and to feel himself for ever and ever and ever alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/orlando-naturally-loved-solitary-places-vast-views-and-to-feel/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“It was not Orlando who spoke, but the spirit of the age. 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I'm a huge fan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fonsi/the-transition-to-the-united-states-was-very-interesting-i-learned/) [Luis Fonsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fonsi/) > [Whenever I get a little chance to get to Orlando, I like to take a couple days' break with the family, just hang out,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fonsi/whenever-i-get-a-little-chance-to-get-to-orlando-i-like-to-take-a/) [Luis Fonsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fonsi/) > [For as long as I have Orlando on my chest, Magic on my chest, I'm going to give it everything I have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/for-as-long-as-i-have-orlando-on-my-chest-magic-on-my-chest-i-m-going/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [I'm not going to be the next Colin Farrell or Orlando Bloom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-sives/i-m-not-going-to-be-the-next-colin-farrell-or-orlando-bloom/) [Jamie Sives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-sives/) > [I was born and raised in Orlando, where the economy and culture has been powerfully shaped by tourism, and so I've long been interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-van-den-berg/i-was-born-and-raised-in-orlando-where-the-economy-and-culture-has/) [Laura van den Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-van-den-berg/) ## 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 Desire quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [Passion is what you need to be good, an unforgiving passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-easton/passion-is-what-you-need-to-be-good-an-unforgiving-passion/) [David Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-easton/) > [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“THE ESSENCE OF YOUR DESIRE IS A FEELING”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/the-essence-of-your-desire-is-a-feeling/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [On the brink of being satiated, desire still appears infinite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/on-the-brink-of-being-satiated-desire-still-appears-infinite/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. 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He could smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emery-lee/from-the-devil-you-know-she-wanted-him-too-he-could-see-it-in-the/) [Emery Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emery-lee/) [Browse all 15,155 Desire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“She remembered how, as a young man, she had insisted that women must be obedient, chaste, scented, and exquisitely apparelled. \"Now I shall have to pay in my own person for those desires,\" she reflected; \"for women are not (judging by my own short experience of the sex) obedient, chaste, scented, and exquisitely apparelled by nature. They can only attain these graces, without which they may enjoy none of the delights of life, by the most tedious discipline. There's the hairdressing,\" she thought, \"that alone will take an hour of my morning, there's looking in the looking-glass, another hour; there's staying and lacing; there's washing and powdering; there's changing from silk to lace and from lace to paduasoy; there's being chaste year in and year out...”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Virginia Woolf" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/she-remembered-how-as-a-young-man-she-had-insisted-that-women-must-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Desire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/she-remembered-how-as-a-young-man-she-had-insisted-that-women-must-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81a/virginia-woolf-49_desire_she-remembered-how-as-a-young-man-she-ha_771267.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81a/virginia-woolf-49_desire_she-remembered-how-as-a-young-man-she-ha_771267.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81a/virginia-woolf-49_desire_she-remembered-how-as-a-young-man-she-ha_771267.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“She remembered how, as a young man, she had insisted that women must be obedient, chaste, scented, and…” — Virginia Woolf", "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": "Virginia Woolf", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“She remembered how, as a young...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/she-remembered-how-as-a-young-man-she-had-insisted-that-women-must-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/she-remembered-how-as-a-young-man-she-had-insisted-that-women-must-be/#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 } } ] } ```