--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Along with the yearning that came from…" description: "\"“Along with the yearning that came from some deep part of her, that was selfless and exalted, Thea had a hard kind of cockiness, a determination to get..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/566/willa-cather-634_cockiness_along-with-the-yearning-that-came-from-s_1013361.png" --- # Along with the yearning that came from some deep part of… ![“Along with the yearning that came from some deep part of her, that was selfless and exalted, Thea had a hard kind of cockiness, a determination to get ahead. Well, there are passages in life when that fierce, stubborn self-assertion will stand its ground after the nobler feeling is overwhelmed and…” quote by Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/566/willa-cather-634_cockiness_along-with-the-yearning-that-came-from-s_1013361.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/566/willa-cather-634_cockiness_along-with-the-yearning-that-came-from-s_1013361.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/566/willa-cather-634_cockiness_along-with-the-yearning-that-came-from-s_1013361.png) > ““Along with the yearning that came from some deep part of her, that was selfless and exalted, Thea had a hard kind of cockiness, a determination to get ahead. Well, there are passages in life when that fierce, stubborn self-assertion will stand its ground after the nobler feeling is overwhelmed and beaten under.”” [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑assertion can dominate when noble feelings are suppressed, leading to stubborn determination. **In simple terms:** When kindness is crushed, pride takes over. Key Takeaway Recognize when pride replaces compassion. Themes pride determination conflict self‑assertion Mood reflective dramatic Type literary psychological When to use this quote - personal growth - leadership - relationship counseling - creative writing Key Concepts psychology human nature emotional resilience motivation Questions to Reflect On - How can one balance ambition with empathy? - When does self‑assertion become harmful? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on pride may alienate others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cockiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cockiness/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Yearning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yearning/) ## Related quotes > [“Everything you do or say interests me." "Really," she said skeptically. "What about Lord Westcliff's claim that I'm shallow and self-absorbed?" As she faced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/everything-you-do-or-say-interests-me-really-she-said-skeptically/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [“She came into the world fierce and stubborn and then she learned to hate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/she-came-into-the-world-fierce-and-stubborn-and-then-she-learned-to/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [“even in their poverty they carried themselves with a fierce and stubborn pride that warned others to treat them with respect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/even-in-their-poverty-they-carried-themselves-with-a-fierce-and/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [To be a star and stay a star, I think you've got to have a certain air of arrogance about you, a cockiness, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morgan/to-be-a-star-and-stay-a-star-i-think-you-ve-got-to-have-a-certain-air/) [Joe Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morgan/) > [“The only thing that'll drive the cockiness out of me is you faking an orgasm. And I don't see that happening any time soon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-young/the-only-thing-that-ll-drive-the-cockiness-out-of-me-is-you-faking-an/) [Samantha Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-young/) > [“When things go right, much can go wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/when-things-go-right-much-can-go-wrong/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [There is no such uncertainty as a sure thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/there-is-no-such-uncertainty-as-a-sure-thing/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [Cockiness is the downfall of many who fail, however, confidence is a main tool of most who succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb-roberson/cockiness-is-the-downfall-of-many-who-fail-however-confidence-is-a/) Caleb Roberson > [“Cockiness is useful to fake on occasion, but it'll only get you killed if you believe it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-rose-clarke/cockiness-is-useful-to-fake-on-occasion-but-it-ll-only-get-you-killed/) [Cassandra Rose Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-rose-clarke/) > [Suck my cockiness, lick my persuasion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rihanna/suck-my-cockiness-lick-my-persuasion/) [Rihanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rihanna/) > [I'm a very modest person. But I'm also extremely confident. And if you put me in the situation or in the moment, I'm gonna…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-brees/i-m-a-very-modest-person-but-i-m-also-extremely-confident-and-if-you/) [Drew Brees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-brees/) > [You know I need that cockiness, the self-belief, arrogance, swagger, whatever you want to call it, I need that on the golf course to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-mcilroy/you-know-i-need-that-cockiness-the-self-belief-arrogance-swagger/) [Rory McIlroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-mcilroy/) > [Confidence is sexy Cockiness is not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/confidence-is-sexy-cockiness-is-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I never try to get ahead of myself because there's nothing that bothers me more than cockiness. I don't think that's necessary at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-tiafoe/i-never-try-to-get-ahead-of-myself-because-there-s-nothing-that/) [Frances Tiafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-tiafoe/) > [“Confidence cannot escalate to arrogance, it only happens if the blood of pride is running through your veins.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/confidence-cannot-escalate-to-arrogance-it-only-happens-if-the-blood/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) ## More by Willa Cather > [The end is nothing; the road is all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/the-end-is-nothing-the-road-is-all/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [Of all the bewildering things about a new country, the absence of human landmarks is one of the most depressing and disheartening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/of-all-the-bewildering-things-about-a-new-country-the-absence-of/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [Success is less interesting than struggle. There is great pleasure in the effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/success-is-less-interesting-than-struggle-there-is-great-pleasure-in/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [“I only knew the schoolbooks said he "died in the wilderness, of a broken heart." "More than him has done that," said Antonia sadly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/i-only-knew-the-schoolbooks-said-he-died-in-the-wilderness-of-a/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [“Have the last word ma'm," he said cheerfully. "It's a lady's privilege.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/have-the-last-word-ma-m-he-said-cheerfully-it-s-a-lady-s-privilege/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > ["More than him has done that," said Antonia sadly, and the girls murmured assent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/more-than-him-has-done-that-said-antonia-sadly-and-the-girls-murmured/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [Nothing mattered ... but writing books, and living the kind of life that made it possible to write them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/nothing-mattered-but-writing-books-and-living-the-kind-of-life-that/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [“Money and office and success are the consolations of impotence. Fortune turns kind to such solid people and lets them suck their bone in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/money-and-office-and-success-are-the-consolations-of-impotence/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [But she still had that something which fires the imagination, could still stop one's breath for a moment by a look or gesture that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/but-she-still-had-that-something-which-fires-the-imagination-could/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [“You remember how homesick I used to get, and what long talks we used to have coming from school? We've someway always felt alike…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/you-remember-how-homesick-i-used-to-get-and-what-long-talks-we-used/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [“He placed this book in my grandmother's hands, looked at her entreatingly, and said, with an earnestness which I shall never forget, "Te-e-ach, te-e-ach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/he-placed-this-book-in-my-grandmother-s-hands-looked-at-her/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [The sincerity of feeling that is possible between a writer and a reader is one of the finest things I know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/the-sincerity-of-feeling-that-is-possible-between-a-writer-and-a/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [One realizes that human relationships are the tragic necessity of human life; that they can never be wholly satisfactory, that every ego is half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/one-realizes-that-human-relationships-are-the-tragic-necessity-of/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [Our tree became the talking tree of the fairy tale; legends and stories nestled like birds in its branches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/our-tree-became-the-talking-tree-of-the-fairy-tale-legends-and/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [“Isn’t it queer: there are only two or three human stories, and they go on repeating themselves as fiercely as if they had never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/isn-t-it-queer-there-are-only-two-or-three-human-stories-and-they-go/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) [Explore all 434 Willa Cather quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) ## More Cockiness quotes > [“Confidence cannot escalate to arrogance, it only happens if the blood of pride is running through your veins.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/confidence-cannot-escalate-to-arrogance-it-only-happens-if-the-blood/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [I never try to get ahead of myself because there's nothing that bothers me more than cockiness. I don't think that's necessary at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-tiafoe/i-never-try-to-get-ahead-of-myself-because-there-s-nothing-that/) [Frances Tiafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-tiafoe/) > [Confidence is sexy Cockiness is not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/confidence-is-sexy-cockiness-is-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You know I need that cockiness, the self-belief, arrogance, swagger, whatever you want to call it, I need that on the golf course to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-mcilroy/you-know-i-need-that-cockiness-the-self-belief-arrogance-swagger/) [Rory McIlroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-mcilroy/) > [I'm a very modest person. But I'm also extremely confident. And if you put me in the situation or in the moment, I'm gonna…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-brees/i-m-a-very-modest-person-but-i-m-also-extremely-confident-and-if-you/) [Drew Brees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-brees/) > [Suck my cockiness, lick my persuasion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rihanna/suck-my-cockiness-lick-my-persuasion/) [Rihanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rihanna/) > [“Cockiness is useful to fake on occasion, but it'll only get you killed if you believe it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-rose-clarke/cockiness-is-useful-to-fake-on-occasion-but-it-ll-only-get-you-killed/) [Cassandra Rose Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-rose-clarke/) > [Cockiness is the downfall of many who fail, however, confidence is a main tool of most who succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb-roberson/cockiness-is-the-downfall-of-many-who-fail-however-confidence-is-a/) Caleb Roberson > [There is no such uncertainty as a sure thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/there-is-no-such-uncertainty-as-a-sure-thing/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [“When things go right, much can go wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/when-things-go-right-much-can-go-wrong/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [“The only thing that'll drive the cockiness out of me is you faking an orgasm. And I don't see that happening any time soon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-young/the-only-thing-that-ll-drive-the-cockiness-out-of-me-is-you-faking-an/) [Samantha Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-young/) > [To be a star and stay a star, I think you've got to have a certain air of arrogance about you, a cockiness, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morgan/to-be-a-star-and-stay-a-star-i-think-you-ve-got-to-have-a-certain-air/) [Joe Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morgan/) > [Class is an aura of confidence that is being sure without being cocky. Class has nothing to do with money. Class never runs scared.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-landers/class-is-an-aura-of-confidence-that-is-being-sure-without-being-cocky/) [Ann Landers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-landers/) > [“Don't feel better than anybody, because you feel like something. Always have it at the back of your mind that you were nothing before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/don-t-feel-better-than-anybody-because-you-feel-like-something-always/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [It's easy to get swept up in the trappings of that sort of lifestyle, but I've been doing it for long enough that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cole-sprouse/it-s-easy-to-get-swept-up-in-the-trappings-of-that-sort-of-lifestyle/) [Cole Sprouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cole-sprouse/) [Browse all 37 Cockiness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cockiness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Along with the yearning that came from some deep part of her, that was selfless and exalted, Thea had a hard kind of cockiness, a determination to get ahead. 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