#modes

For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth, Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech, To stir men’s blood: I only speak right on; I tell you that which you yourselves do know; ↗

— William Shakespeare

#men

Modesty is a reflex, arising naturally to help a woman protect her hopes and guide their fulfillment -specifically, this hope for one man. (...) Along with this hope comes a certain vulnerability, because every time a man fails to stick by us, our hopes are, in a sense, dashed. This is where modesty fits in. For modesty armed this special vulnerability -not to oppress women, but with the aim of putting them on an equal footing with men. The delay modesty created not only made it more likely that women could select men who would stick by them, but in turning lust into love, it changed men from uncivilized males who ran after as many sexual partners as they can get to men who really wanted to stick by one woman. ↗

— Wendy Shalit

#modesty #change

Pantaloons were often worn tight as paint and were not a great deal less revealing, particularly as they were worn without underwear. . . . Jackets were tailored with tails in the back, but were cut away in front so that they perfectly framed the groin. It was the first time in history that men's apparel was consciously designed to be more sexy than women's. ↗

— Bill Bryson

#modesty #sex-appeal #design

This is the hardest of all: to close the open hand out of love, and keep modest as a giver. ↗

— Friedrich Nietzsche

#giver #hand #hardest #keep #love

That will do extremely well, child. You have delighted us long enough. Let the other young ladies have time to exhibit. ↗

— Jane Austen

#irony #modesty #musicality #showing-off #music

Those from whose pocket the salary is drawn, and by whose appointment the officer was made, have always a right to discuss the merits of their officers, and their modes of exercising the duties they are paid to perform. ↗

— Charles Babbage

#appointment #discuss #drawn #duties #exercising

Modesty is the conscience of the body. ↗

— Honore de Balzac

#conscience #modesty

Conceit spoils the finest genius. There is not much danger that real talent or goodness will be overlooked long; even if it is, the consciousness of possessing and using it well should satisfy one, and the great charm of all power is modesty. ↗

— Louisa May Alcott

#conceit #consciousness #danger #even #finest

Modesty is my best quality. ↗

— Jack Benny

#modesty #quality

To not be modest about it, you'll find that with only a couple of exceptions, most of the musicians that I've worked with have done their best work by far with me. ↗

— David Bowie

#best #best work #couple #done #exceptions