--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is wanted for the nonce is, that…" description: "\"What is wanted for the nonce is, that folks should be as agreeable as possible in conversation and demeanor; so that good humor may be said to be one o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_agreeable_what-is-wanted-for-the-nonce-is-that-fol_3086961.jpg" --- # What is wanted for the nonce is, that folks should be as… ![“What is wanted for the nonce is, that folks should be as agreeable as possible in conversation and demeanor; so that good humor may be said to be one of the very best articles of dress one can wear in societ.” quote by William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_agreeable_what-is-wanted-for-the-nonce-is-that-fol_3086961.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_agreeable_what-is-wanted-for-the-nonce-is-that-fol_3086961.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_agreeable_what-is-wanted-for-the-nonce-is-that-fol_3086961.jpg) > “What is wanted for the nonce is, that folks should be as agreeable as possible in conversation and demeanor; so that good humor may be said to be one of the very best articles of dress one can wear in societ.” [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. He suggests that being pleasant and agreeable is like wearing a fine outfit, enhancing social interactions. **In simple terms:** Politeness is social attire. Key Takeaway Cultivate courteous demeanor. Themes social etiquette humor appearance Mood lighthearted thoughtful Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - business meetings - dinner parties - online forums Key Concepts civility social capital communication Questions to Reflect On - When does politeness become insincerity? - Can humor replace genuine respect? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on agreeableness may suppress authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Contentment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contentment/) [Educational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/educational/) [Good attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-attitude/) [Good humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-humor/) [Great attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-attitude/) [Great happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-happiness/) [Great positive attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-positive-attitude/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Inner happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inner-happiness/) [Inner peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inner-peace/) [Inner peace and happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inner-peace-and-happiness/) [Positive attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-attitude/) ## Related quotes > [Seek out that particular mental attribute which makes you feel most deeply and vitally alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/seek-out-that-particular-mental-attribute-which-makes-you-feel-most-2/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [Your attitude is either the lock on, or the key to the door of your success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/your-attitude-is-either-the-lock-on-or-the-key-to-the-door-of-your/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [One can choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/one-can-choose-one-s-attitude-in-any-given-set-of-circumstances/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Attitude determines how well you do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-holtz/attitude-determines-how-well-you-do-it/) [Lou Holtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-holtz/) > [The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/the-only-thing-we-can-do-is-play-on-the-one-string-we-have-and-that/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/the-longer-i-live-the-more-i-realize-the-impact-of-attitude-on-life-3/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [You are the conductor of your own success train.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cranch-bond/you-are-the-conductor-of-your-own-success-train/) [William Cranch Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cranch-bond/) > [“Good humor may be said to be one of the very best articles of dress one can wear in society.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/good-humor-may-be-said-to-be-one-of-the-very-best-articles-of-dress/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Good humor is one of the best articles of dress one can wear in society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/good-humor-is-one-of-the-best-articles-of-dress-one-can-wear-in/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [The next time you feel slightly uncomfortable with the pressure in your life, remember no pressure, no diamonds. Pressure is a part of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/the-next-time-you-feel-slightly-uncomfortable-with-the-pressure-in/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [We cannot tell what may happen to us in the strange medley of life. But we can decide what happens in us - how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fort-newton/we-cannot-tell-what-may-happen-to-us-in-the-strange-medley-of-life/) [Joseph Fort Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fort-newton/) > [We plant seeds that will flower as results in our lives, so best to remove the weeds of anger, avarice, envy and doubt, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-day/we-plant-seeds-that-will-flower-as-results-in-our-lives-so-best-to/) [Dorothy Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-day/) > [The world is full of cactus, but we don't have to sit on it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-foley/the-world-is-full-of-cactus-but-we-don-t-have-to-sit-on-it/) Will Foley > [You are overcome by the fact because you think you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/you-are-overcome-by-the-fact-because-you-think-you-are/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [What I need to do is have a great positive attitude and a great work ethic. Those two things validate me. Yes, it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/what-i-need-to-do-is-have-a-great-positive-attitude-and-a-great-work/) [David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/) ## 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 Agreeable quotes > [It is with rivers as it is with people: the greatest are not always the most agreeable nor the best to live with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/it-is-with-rivers-as-it-is-with-people-the-greatest-are-not-always/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [I roll out of my couch every morning with the more agreeable expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/i-roll-out-of-my-couch-every-morning-with-the-more-agreeable/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [Remember that when you meet your antagonist, to do everything in a mild agreeable manner. Let your courage be keen, but, at the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/remember-that-when-you-meet-your-antagonist-to-do-everything-in-a/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [“Expect a most agreeable letter, for not being overburdened with subject (having nothing at all to say), there shall be no check to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/expect-a-most-agreeable-letter-for-not-being-overburdened-with/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“Above all one should accept everything, in general and individually, in oneself or in others, agreeable or disagreeable, with a prompt and confident spirit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-the-great/above-all-one-should-accept-everything-in-general-and-individually-in/) Albert the Great > [“We laughed at the same things, and we liked the same things. What more is needed for agreeable society?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/we-laughed-at-the-same-things-and-we-liked-the-same-things-what-more/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [I'm small, but I'm neither compliant nor agreeable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/i-m-small-but-i-m-neither-compliant-nor-agreeable/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [Surrounded by all the members of my dear family, enjoying the affection of numerous friends, who have never abandoned me, and possessing a sufficient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-james-audubon/surrounded-by-all-the-members-of-my-dear-family-enjoying-the/) [John James Audubon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-james-audubon/) > [Choose the GOOD WILL that is most useful, and habit will make it the most agreeable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-stark/choose-the-good-will-that-is-most-useful-and-habit-will-make-it-the/) [Marv Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-stark/) > [An agreeable figure and winning manner, which inspire affection without love, are always new. Beauty loses its relish, the graces never, after the longest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-home-lord-kames/an-agreeable-figure-and-winning-manner-which-inspire-affection/) [Henry Home, Lord Kames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-home-lord-kames/) > [I always follow the rules. No fake co-productions. I know how to make content agreeable and acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-zheng-wu/i-always-follow-the-rules-no-fake-co-productions-i-know-how-to-make/) [Bruno Zheng Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-zheng-wu/) > [I like to make people happy, and with fairy tales, I can say anything I want to, but in an agreeable way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-ocelot/i-like-to-make-people-happy-and-with-fairy-tales-i-can-say-anything-i/) [Michel Ocelot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-ocelot/) > [Dandies, when first-rate, are generally very agreeable men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/dandies-when-first-rate-are-generally-very-agreeable-men/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [This goin' ware glory waits ye haint one agreeable feetur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/this-goin-ware-glory-waits-ye-haint-one-agreeable-feetur/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [One thing which makes us find so few people who appear reasonable and agreeable in conversation is, that there is scarcely any one who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/one-thing-which-makes-us-find-so-few-people-who-appear-reasonable-and/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) Browse all 151 Agreeable quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What is wanted for the nonce is, that folks should be as agreeable as possible in conversation and demeanor; so that good humor may be said to be one of the very best articles of dress one can wear in societ.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Makepeace Thackeray" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/what-is-wanted-for-the-nonce-is-that-folks-should-be-as-agreeable-as/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Agreeable" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/what-is-wanted-for-the-nonce-is-that-folks-should-be-as-agreeable-as/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_agreeable_what-is-wanted-for-the-nonce-is-that-fol_3086961.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_agreeable_what-is-wanted-for-the-nonce-is-that-fol_3086961.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_agreeable_what-is-wanted-for-the-nonce-is-that-fol_3086961.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What is wanted for the nonce is, that folks should be as agreeable as possible in conversation and demeanor…” — 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": "What is wanted for the nonce...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/what-is-wanted-for-the-nonce-is-that-folks-should-be-as-agreeable-as/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/what-is-wanted-for-the-nonce-is-that-folks-should-be-as-agreeable-as/#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 } } ] } ```