---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Oh, brother wearers of motley, are there…"
description: "\"Oh, brother wearers of motley, are there not moments when one grows sick of grinning and trembling and the jingling of cap and bells?\" — William Makepe..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df3/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_bells_oh-brother-wearers-of-motley-are-there-n_203028.jpg"
---

#  Oh, brother wearers of motley, are there not moments when…

![“Oh, brother wearers of motley, are there not moments when one grows sick of grinning and trembling and the jingling of cap and bells?” quote by William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df3/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_bells_oh-brother-wearers-of-motley-are-there-n_203028.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df3/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_bells_oh-brother-wearers-of-motley-are-there-n_203028.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df3/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_bells_oh-brother-wearers-of-motley-are-there-n_203028.jpg)

> “Oh, brother wearers of motley, are there not moments when one grows sick of grinning and trembling and the jingling of cap and bells?”

[William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Even the most colorful lives can become weary of constant performance and superficiality.

**In simple terms:** Joy fades under constant pretense.

Key Takeaway

Seek authenticity over performance.

Themes

authenticity fatigue performance

Mood

melancholic thoughtful

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- social events
- career networking
- theatrical work
- celebrity culture

Key Concepts

mask societal expectation

Questions to Reflect On

- When have you felt forced to perform?
- What authentic expression can you reclaim?

A Different Perspective

Authenticity may clash with social expectations; risk of isolation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bells/) [Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [“He found himself grinning at her. His nervousness had disappeared, and suddenly he had a sense of his own size, his physical strength, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-fast/he-found-himself-grinning-at-her-his-nervousness-had-disappeared-and/)

[Howard Fast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-fast/)

> [Brigan," she said, annoyed that he had not understood. "I’ll always be beautiful. Look at me. I have one hundred and sixty two bug…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/brigan-she-said-annoyed-that-he-had-not-understood-i-ll-always-be/)

[Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/)

> [He murmers into my hair, "Forget what I said earlier, let's stick with this, I might not survive anything more." I laugh. Then he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/he-murmers-into-my-hair-forget-what-i-said-earlier-let-s-stick-with/)

[Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/)

> [“I’m just glad you took me back,” he said, grinning widely. Stupid grin. It made me want to kiss him, and I shouldn’t have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-alexander/i-m-just-glad-you-took-me-back-he-said-grinning-widely-stupid-grin-it/)

[Monica Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-alexander/)

> [I found myself grinning until my cheeks hurt, my scalp prickling till I thought it might lift off my head. My tongue ran away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-found-myself-grinning-until-my-cheeks-hurt-my-scalp-prickling-till/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

> [“You saying you can’t handle that?” Kelly needled, grinning. Nick could see that grin in the moonlight, had seen that grin a thousand times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-roux/you-saying-you-can-t-handle-that-kelly-needled-grinning-nick-could/)

[Abigail Roux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-roux/)

> [“My life is like a memento more painting from European art: there is always a grinning skull at my side to remind me of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/my-life-is-like-a-memento-more-painting-from-european-art-there-is/)

[Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/)

> [Seventeen, eh!" said Hagrid as he accepted a bucket-sized glass of wine from Fred. "Six years to the day we met, Harry, d’yeh remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/seventeen-eh-said-hagrid-as-he-accepted-a-bucket-sized-glass-of-wine/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Because it’s a lit fuse, love – you light it yourself, and you stand around the powder keg afterward, grinning from ear to ear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-polansky/because-it-s-a-lit-fuse-love-you-light-it-yourself-and-you-stand/)

[Daniel Polansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-polansky/)

> [The shouts of triumph become infectious, and I lift my voice to join in, running toward my teammates. Christina holds the flag up high,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/the-shouts-of-triumph-become-infectious-and-i-lift-my-voice-to-join/)

[Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/)

> [Go for broke. Always try and do too much. Dispense with safety nets. Take a deep breath before you begin talking. Aim for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/go-for-broke-always-try-and-do-too-much-dispense-with-safety-nets/)

[Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/)

> [Actually, who hasn't been through the ghastly experience of sitting in front of a blank page, with its toothless mouth grinning at you: Go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/actually-who-hasn-t-been-through-the-ghastly-experience-of-sitting-in/)

[Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/)

> [Skinny guy asian grinning wide little chinky eyed every line is true I get it straight no invisiline. You running it I'm at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-pryde/skinny-guy-asian-grinning-wide-little-chinky-eyed-every-line-is-true/)

[D Pryde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-pryde/)

> [Tea? At the beach? No time for luxuries, Holly. There is important work to be done.” He winked at Butler. “Are you sure you’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/tea-at-the-beach-no-time-for-luxuries-holly-there-is-important-work/)

[Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/)

> [But why do only unimportant things?" asked Milo, who suddenly remembered how much time he spent each day doing them. "Think of all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/but-why-do-only-unimportant-things-asked-milo-who-suddenly-remembered/)

[Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/)

## More by William Makepeace Thackeray

> [“To those great geniuses now in petticoats, who shall write novels for the beloved reader's children, these men and things will be as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/to-those-great-geniuses-now-in-petticoats-who-shall-write-novels-for/)

[William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/)

> [When one fib becomes due as it were, you must forge another to take up the old acceptance; and so the stock of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/when-one-fib-becomes-due-as-it-were-you-must-forge-another-to-take-up/)

[William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/)

> [Let a man who has to make his fortune in life remember this maxim: Attacking is the only secret. Dare and the world yields,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/let-a-man-who-has-to-make-his-fortune-in-life-remember-this-maxim/)

[William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/)

> [As nature made every man with a nose and eyes of his own, she gave him a character of his own, too; and yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/as-nature-made-every-man-with-a-nose-and-eyes-of-his-own-she-gave-him/)

[William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/)

> [It is best to love wisely, no doubt; but to love foolishly is better than not to be able to love at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/it-is-best-to-love-wisely-no-doubt-but-to-love-foolishly-is-better/)

[William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/)

> [Diffidence is a sort of false modesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/diffidence-is-a-sort-of-false-modesty/)

[William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/)

> [Our great thoughts, our great affections, the truths of our life, never leave us. Surely they can not separate from our consciousness, shall follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/our-great-thoughts-our-great-affections-the-truths-of-our-life-never/)

[William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/)

> [Charming Alnaschar visions! it is the happy privilege of youth to construct you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/charming-alnaschar-visions-it-is-the-happy-privilege-of-youth-to/)

[William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/)

> [To see a young couple loving each other is no wonder; but to see an old couple loving each other is the best sight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/to-see-a-young-couple-loving-each-other-is-no-wonder-but-to-see-an/)

[William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/)

> [An immense percentage of snobs, I believe, is to be found in every rank of this mortal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/an-immense-percentage-of-snobs-i-believe-is-to-be-found-in-every-rank/)

[William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/)

> [Vanity is often the unseen spur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/vanity-is-often-the-unseen-spur/)

[William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/)

> [A good laugh is sunshine in the house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/a-good-laugh-is-sunshine-in-the-house/)

[William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/)

> [Novelty has charms that our minds can hardly withstand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/novelty-has-charms-that-our-minds-can-hardly-withstand/)

[William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/)

> [“Picture to yourself, O fair young reader, a worldly, selfish, graceless, thankless, religionless old woman, writhing in pain and fear, and without her wig.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/picture-to-yourself-o-fair-young-reader-a-worldly-selfish-graceless/)

[William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/)

> [Certain opuscules, denominated 'Christmas Books,' with the ostensible intention of swelling the tide of exhilaration, or other expansive emotions, incident upon the exodus of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/certain-opuscules-denominated-christmas-books-with-the-ostensible/)

[William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/)

[Explore all 384 William Makepeace Thackeray quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/)

## More Bells quotes

> [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/)

[Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/)

> [Your name is a golden bell hung in my heart. I would break my body to pieces to call you once by your name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/your-name-is-a-golden-bell-hung-in-my-heart-i-would-break-my-body-to/)

[Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/)

> [“Suddenly the air was full of that deep clangor of bells which periodically covers Rome with a roof of silver.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/suddenly-the-air-was-full-of-that-deep-clangor-of-bells-which/)

[Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/)

> [Hercules used noise! Brass bells! He scared them away with the most horrible sound he could-" said Percy "Percy... Chiron's collection!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/hercules-used-noise-brass-bells-he-scared-them-away-with-the-most/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [Above the clouds I lift my wing To hear the bells of Heaven ring; Some of their music, though my fights be wild, To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-clarence-stedman/above-the-clouds-i-lift-my-wing-to-hear-the-bells-of-heaven-ring-some/)

[Edmund Clarence Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-clarence-stedman/)

> [“But it’s bells at twenty-seven thousand feet as the plane breaks into the clear again, as its motion steadies again; it is bells; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/but-it-s-bells-at-twenty-seven-thousand-feet-as-the-plane-breaks-into/)

[Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/)

> [You run the football for toughness. You run the ball to tell your opponent that you're as tough as they are. But you throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-glanville/you-run-the-football-for-toughness-you-run-the-ball-to-tell-your/)

Jerry Glanville

> [In cloths cheap handsomeness, doth bear the bell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/in-cloths-cheap-handsomeness-doth-bear-the-bell/)

[George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/)

> [Man preys on man; and you mourn for the idle tapestry that decorated a gothic pillar, and the dronish bell that summoned the fat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/man-preys-on-man-and-you-mourn-for-the-idle-tapestry-that-decorated-a/)

[Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/)

> [The Bell curve is a fact of life. The blacks on average score 85 per cent on IQ and it is accurate, nothing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/the-bell-curve-is-a-fact-of-life-the-blacks-on-average-score-85-per/)

[Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/)

> [There is nothing better for me than to bring the bells in, in Scotland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharleen-spiteri/there-is-nothing-better-for-me-than-to-bring-the-bells-in-in-scotland/)

[Sharleen Spiteri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharleen-spiteri/)

> [Now see that noble and most sovereign reason, Like sweet bells jangled, out of tune and harsh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/now-see-that-noble-and-most-sovereign-reason-like-sweet-bells-jangled/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [ I became an instant fan of the show \[Underground\] seconds into the opening frames of the pilot. When that drone shot carried us through… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisha-hinds/i-became-an-instant-fan-of-the-show-underground-seconds-into-the/)

[Aisha Hinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisha-hinds/)

> [This world o' God's is brighter Than we ever dream or know; Its burdens growin' lighter- An' it's Love that makes 'em so! An'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lebby-stanton/this-world-o-god-s-is-brighter-than-we-ever-dream-or-know-its-burdens/)

[Frank Lebby Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lebby-stanton/)

> [Believe it or not, Mexican cooking, for those of you who have not gone farther south than Taco Bell, uses a lot of vegetables.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/believe-it-or-not-mexican-cooking-for-those-of-you-who-have-not-gone/)

[Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/)

[Browse all 790 Bells quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bells/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Oh, brother wearers of motley, are there not moments when one grows sick of grinning and trembling and the jingling of cap and bells?",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "William Makepeace Thackeray"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/oh-brother-wearers-of-motley-are-there-not-moments-when-one-grows/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bells"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/oh-brother-wearers-of-motley-are-there-not-moments-when-one-grows/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df3/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_bells_oh-brother-wearers-of-motley-are-there-n_203028.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df3/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_bells_oh-brother-wearers-of-motley-are-there-n_203028.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df3/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_bells_oh-brother-wearers-of-motley-are-there-n_203028.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Oh, brother wearers of motley, are there not moments when one grows sick of grinning and trembling and the…” — William Makepeace Thackeray",
                "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": "William Makepeace Thackeray",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Oh, brother wearers of motley, are...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/oh-brother-wearers-of-motley-are-there-not-moments-when-one-grows/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/oh-brother-wearers-of-motley-are-there-not-moments-when-one-grows/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
