--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At his leisure, the lieutenant allowed…" description: "\"“At his leisure, the lieutenant allowed the unforgettable spectacle to engrave itself upon his mind. With one hand he fondled the hair, with the other ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ee/yukio-mishima-1418_young-and-beautiful_at-his-leisure-the-lieutenant-allowed-th_392949.jpg" --- # At his leisure, the lieutenant allowed the unforgettable… ![“At his leisure, the lieutenant allowed the unforgettable spectacle to engrave itself upon his mind. With one hand he fondled the hair, with the other he softly stroked the magnificent face, implanting kisses here and there where his eyes lingered. The quiet coldness of the high, tapering forehead…” quote by Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ee/yukio-mishima-1418_young-and-beautiful_at-his-leisure-the-lieutenant-allowed-th_392949.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ee/yukio-mishima-1418_young-and-beautiful_at-his-leisure-the-lieutenant-allowed-th_392949.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ee/yukio-mishima-1418_young-and-beautiful_at-his-leisure-the-lieutenant-allowed-th_392949.jpg) > ““At his leisure, the lieutenant allowed the unforgettable spectacle to engrave itself upon his mind. With one hand he fondled the hair, with the other he softly stroked the magnificent face, implanting kisses here and there where his eyes lingered. The quiet coldness of the high, tapering forehead, the closed eyes with their long lashes beneath faintly etched brows, the set of the finely shaped nose, the gleam of teeth glimpsed between full, regular lips, the soft cheeks and the small, wise chin… Wherever the lieutenant's eyes moved his lips faithfully followed. The high, swelling breasts, surmounted by nipples like the buds of a wild cherry, hardened as the lieutenant's lips closed about them. The arms flowed smoothly downward from each side of the breast, tapering toward the wrists, yet losing nothing of their roundness or symmetry…The natural hollow curving between the bosom and the stomach carried in its lines a suggestion not only of softness but of resilient strength, and while it gave forewarning to the rich curves spreading outward from here to the hips it had, in itself, an appearance only of restraint and proper discipline. The whiteness and richness of the stomach and hips was like milk brimming in a great bowl, and the sharply shadowed dip of the navel could have been the fresh impress of a raindrop, fallen there that very moment. Where the shadows gathered more thickly, hair clustered, gentle and sensitive, and as the agitation mounted in the now no longer passive body there hung over this region a scent like the smoldering of fragrant blossoms, growing steadily more pervasive… Passionately they held their faces close, rubbing cheek against cheek…Their breasts, moist with sweat, were tightly joined, and every inch of the young and beautiful bodies had become so much one with the other that it seemed impossible there should ever again be a separation…From the heights they plunged into the abyss, and from the abyss they took wing and soared once more to dizzying heights…As one cycle ended, almost immediately a new wave of passion would be generated, and together -with no trace of fatigue- they would climb again in a single breathless movement to the very summit.”” [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The lieutenant’s detailed observation of a woman's body blends sensual admiration with disciplined description, reflecting both desire and restraint. **In simple terms:** He admires beauty with careful, respectful detail. Key Takeaway Balance desire with thoughtful observation. Themes desire beauty discipline Mood intense poetic Type literary sensual When to use this quote - intimate encounter - artistic expression - personal reflection Key Concepts aesthetic appreciation human form Questions to Reflect On - How does observation become objectification? - What role does restraint play in desire? A Different Perspective The focus on physical detail may objectify the subject. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Young and beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-and-beautiful/) ## Related quotes > [“Frenchie spoke: 'Captain, you should have seen my lieutenant. He was magnificent.' 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Lieutenant Blouse was standing in the middle of the floor in his breeches and shirtsleeves, holding a saber. Polly was no expert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/she-entered-lieutenant-blouse-was-standing-in-the-middle-of-the-floor/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Nobody’s ever the bad guy in their own mind, Lieutenant. Sometimes you just have to pick between two bad choices and decide which one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marko-kloos/nobody-s-ever-the-bad-guy-in-their-own-mind-lieutenant-sometimes-you/) [Marko Kloos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marko-kloos/) ## More by Yukio Mishima > [When a captive lion steps out of his cage, he comes into a wider world than the lion who has known only the wilds.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/when-a-captive-lion-steps-out-of-his-cage-he-comes-into-a-wider-world/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [Suddenly the full long wail of a ship's horn surged through the open window and flooded the dim room - a cry of boundless,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/suddenly-the-full-long-wail-of-a-ship-s-horn-surged-through-the-open/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [The purest evil that human efforts could attain, in other words, was probably achieved by those men who made their wills the same and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/the-purest-evil-that-human-efforts-could-attain-in-other-words-was/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [“Because in the pupils of his eyes there lingered the mysterious and eternal horizon that the sea leaves as a keepsake deep in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/because-in-the-pupils-of-his-eyes-there-lingered-the-mysterious-and/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [As usual, it occurred to me that words were the only thing that could possibly save me from this situation. This was a characteristic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/as-usual-it-occurred-to-me-that-words-were-the-only-thing-that-could/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [Mine was the unbearable jealousy a cultured pearl must feel toward a genuine one. Or can there be such a thing in this world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/mine-was-the-unbearable-jealousy-a-cultured-pearl-must-feel-toward-a/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [“Svoju patnju, koju prihvatam, moram da prihvatim kao dragocenost. Ne postoji nijedan ispirač zlata koji iskopava samo zlato. Ispirač vadi pesak sa korita reke,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/svoju-patnju-koju-prihvatam-moram-da-prihvatim-kao-dragocenost-ne/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [I am one who has always been interested only in the edges of the body and the spirit, the outlying regions of the body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/i-am-one-who-has-always-been-interested-only-in-the-edges-of-the-body/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [Just let matters slide. How much better to accept each sweet drop of the honey that was Time, than to stoop to the vulgarity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/just-let-matters-slide-how-much-better-to-accept-each-sweet-drop-of/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [“Great cloud masses boiled up, immense in their quiet majesty. They seemed to drink up all the noise below, even the sound of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/great-cloud-masses-boiled-up-immense-in-their-quiet-majesty-they/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [The special quality of hell is to see everything clearly down to the last detail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/the-special-quality-of-hell-is-to-see-everything-clearly-down-to-the/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [It is a rather risky matter to discuss a happiness that has no need of words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/it-is-a-rather-risky-matter-to-discuss-a-happiness-that-has-no-need/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [“Again, Saburo Tominaga once went to the Shirakawa Prefectural Office to cash his brother Morikuni’s bonus bond and, unwilling to touch paper currency defiled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/again-saburo-tominaga-once-went-to-the-shirakawa-prefectural-office/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [“To be strong and true had been the most important task he had set himself since early childhood. Once, as a boy, he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/to-be-strong-and-true-had-been-the-most-important-task-he-had-set/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [What transforms this world is — knowledge. Do you see what I mean? Nothing else can change anything in this world. Knowledge alone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/what-transforms-this-world-is-knowledge-do-you-see-what-i-mean/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) [Explore all 206 Yukio Mishima quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) ## More Gaze quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [“Taylor said a prayer for the man, and apologized out loud. Knowing there was nothing left to do, she turned to leave. As she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/taylor-said-a-prayer-for-the-man-and-apologized-out-loud-knowing/) [J.T. Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-ellison/) > [“If it makes you feel any better, he’s been all sad doll lately too.” “What are you talking about, Chels?” Chelsea stopped walking and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/if-it-makes-you-feel-any-better-he-s-been-all-sad-doll-lately-too/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) > [“Rodrigo tried to draw a deep breath, but his chest was too filled with anguish, rage and guilt. He kissed his ash-coated fingers. “I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-valdez/rodrigo-tried-to-draw-a-deep-breath-but-his-chest-was-too-filled-with/) [Lisa Valdez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-valdez/) > [“still feel the same way? Could he have changed this much on the inside too? Struggling for the right words, I opened my mouth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-wild/still-feel-the-same-way-could-he-have-changed-this-much-on-the-inside/) [Meredith Wild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-wild/) > [“Being held by him, kissed and mastered, taken under and swept away, enthralled her in a way she—an independent woman if nothing else in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-sumner/being-held-by-him-kissed-and-mastered-taken-under-and-swept-away/) [Tracy Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-sumner/) > [“Don’t you remember how hot we were together, Lane? God.” He takes a quick breath through clenched teeth and runs his hand down my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-a-valentine/don-t-you-remember-how-hot-we-were-together-lane-god-he-takes-a-quick/) [Michelle A. Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-a-valentine/) > [“She knew how to play him so very well. He slipped his hand around hers. "Friends," he repeated roughly. Her smile was bright enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-smith/she-knew-how-to-play-him-so-very-well-he-slipped-his-hand-around-hers/) [Kathryn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-smith/) > [“Damn.” Phineas turned the Big Boy off, then noticed he’d left the box on the bed. Damn, had Zoltan seen it? He stuffed the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerrelyn-sparks/damn-phineas-turned-the-big-boy-off-then-noticed-he-d-left-the-box-on/) [Kerrelyn Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerrelyn-sparks/) > [“Now you," Grandma barks at him. "Yes, you, the invisible truck driver," she added, giving me a wicked grin. "Go stand next to Rose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/now-you-grandma-barks-at-him-yes-you-the-invisible-truck-driver-she/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [His fingertips slid down from my face, lightly stroking the line of my neck, down toward my shoulder. Everywhere he touched, a trail of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/his-fingertips-slid-down-from-my-face-lightly-stroking-the-line-of-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“from THE DEVIL YOU KNOW : She wanted him too. He could see it in the rapid rise of her breasts. 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/) > [“You know when I said I didn't need you?" I asked. He lifted one brow. "I was so wrong.I can't find words to express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jensen/you-know-when-i-said-i-didn-t-need-you-i-asked-he-lifted-one-brow-i/) [Melissa Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jensen/) > [“I didn’t say it just to get you to jump. I’m in love with you, Zane,” he admitted in a calm, clear voice. “I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-urban/i-didn-t-say-it-just-to-get-you-to-jump-i-m-in-love-with-you-zane-he/) [Madeleine Urban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-urban/) > [“This explains so much," she said, clucking her tongue in mother-hen fashion. "You're compensating for this withered appendage." Withered appendage? What the devil was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/this-explains-so-much-she-said-clucking-her-tongue-in-mother-hen/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) Browse all 15,087 Gaze quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“At his leisure, the lieutenant allowed the unforgettable spectacle to engrave itself upon his mind. With one hand he fondled the hair, with the other he softly stroked the magnificent face, implanting kisses here and there where his eyes lingered. The quiet coldness of the high, tapering forehead, the closed eyes with their long lashes beneath faintly etched brows, the set of the finely shaped nose, the gleam of teeth glimpsed between full, regular lips, the soft cheeks and the small, wise chin… Wherever the lieutenant's eyes moved his lips faithfully followed. The high, swelling breasts, surmounted by nipples like the buds of a wild cherry, hardened as the lieutenant's lips closed about them. The arms flowed smoothly downward from each side of the breast, tapering toward the wrists, yet losing nothing of their roundness or symmetry…The natural hollow curving between the bosom and the stomach carried in its lines a suggestion not only of softness but of resilient strength, and while it gave forewarning to the rich curves spreading outward from here to the hips it had, in itself, an appearance only of restraint and proper discipline. The whiteness and richness of the stomach and hips was like milk brimming in a great bowl, and the sharply shadowed dip of the navel could have been the fresh impress of a raindrop, fallen there that very moment. Where the shadows gathered more thickly, hair clustered, gentle and sensitive, and as the agitation mounted in the now no longer passive body there hung over this region a scent like the smoldering of fragrant blossoms, growing steadily more pervasive… Passionately they held their faces close, rubbing cheek against cheek…Their breasts, moist with sweat, were tightly joined, and every inch of the young and beautiful bodies had become so much one with the other that it seemed impossible there should ever again be a separation…From the heights they plunged into the abyss, and from the abyss they took wing and soared once more to dizzying heights…As one cycle ended, almost immediately a new wave of passion would be generated, and together -with no trace of fatigue- they would climb again in a single breathless movement to the very summit.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Yukio Mishima" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/at-his-leisure-the-lieutenant-allowed-the-unforgettable-spectacle-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Gaze" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/at-his-leisure-the-lieutenant-allowed-the-unforgettable-spectacle-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ee/yukio-mishima-1418_young-and-beautiful_at-his-leisure-the-lieutenant-allowed-th_392949.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ee/yukio-mishima-1418_young-and-beautiful_at-his-leisure-the-lieutenant-allowed-th_392949.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ee/yukio-mishima-1418_young-and-beautiful_at-his-leisure-the-lieutenant-allowed-th_392949.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“At his leisure, the lieutenant allowed the unforgettable spectacle to engrave itself upon his mind. 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