Time and trouble will tame an advanced young woman, but an advanced old woman is uncontrollable by any earthly force.
Dorothy L. SayersRead
You're thinking that people don't keep up old jealousies for twenty years or so. Perhaps not. Not just primitive, brute jealousy. That means a word and a blow. But the thing that rankles is hurt vanity. That sticks. Humiliation. And we've all got a sore spot we don't like to have touched.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Old grudges often stem from feelings of humiliation and hurt rather than mere jealousy.
In this quote, Dorothy L. Sayers explores the deeper emotional roots of interpersonal conflict, suggesting that while primitive jealousy may fade, the pain of hurt vanity and humiliation lingers far longer. She implies that every individual has vulnerabilities that, when touched, can reignite old wounds and lead to ongoing resentment, demonstrating the complexities of human relationships.
Themes
JealousyHumiliationRelationshipsHurtVanity
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion about the impact of past grievances in friendships.
More from Dorothy L. Sayers
All quotes →But suppose one doesn't quite know which one wants to put first. Suppose," said Harriet, falling back on words which were not her own, "suppose one is cursed with both a heart and a brain?" "You can usually tell," said Miss de Vine, "by seeing what kind of mistakes you make. I'm quite sure that one never makes fundamental mistakes about the thing one really wants to do. Fundamental mistakes arise out of lack of genuine interest. In my opinion, that is.
Dorothy L. SayersRead
. . . the fellow's got a bee in his bonnet. Thinks God's a secretion of the liver--all right once in a way, but there's no need to keep on about it. There's nothing you can't prove if your outlook is only sufficiently limited.
Dorothy L. SayersRead
None of us feels the true love of God till we realize how wicked we are. But you can't teach people that - they have to learn by experience.
Dorothy L. SayersRead
What is repugnant to every human being is to be reckoned always as a member of a class and not as an individual person.
Dorothy L. SayersRead
[O]ne can scarcely be frightened off writing what one wants to write for fear an obscure reviewer should patronise one on that account.
Dorothy L. SayersRead
Similar quotes
Human sympathy has its limits.
F. Scott FitzgeraldRead
Maggie, we're through with lies and liars in this house. Lock the door.
Tennessee WilliamsRead
It is only when we stand up, with all our failings and sufferings, and try to support others rather than withdraw into ourselves, that we can fully live the life of community.
Jean VanierRead
The ability to deal with people is as purchasable a commodity as sugar or coffee and I will pay more for that ability than for any other under the sun.
John D. RockefellerRead
I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.
J. R. R. TolkienRead
I'm all for any place, any way, any media that can help people connect with somebody and not be lonely.
Ruth WestheimerRead