#modesty

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

...when you put on your shortest dress, please leave some mystery in it. That's the difference between a miniskirt and a ho-skirt. A ho-skirt shows your Frisbee. A miniskirt shows just enough to cause some mystery. What these young women lack is mystery. ↗

— Tyler Perry

#mystery #wisdom #life

He didn't mind how he looked to other people, because the nursery magic had made him Real, and when you are Real shabbiness doesn't matter. ↗

— Margery Williams

#love #modesty #love

A society which sees her modesty or her "hang-ups" as a problem is necessarily a society which will not be able to get him to commit. Conversely, a society which respected modesty, or what now goes by "hang-ups", was one in which men were obligated. ↗

— Wendy Shalit

#hang-ups #men-and-women #modesty #relationships #society

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

Saatnya angin berbau asin datang dari laut. Hari ini, aku akan bermain gekkin untukmu. Suara denting senar melebur bersama udara, meresap dalam panca indera. Terlihat seperti wewangian apakah nada-nada ini... Dengan terlahirnya lagu ini, keberadaanmu mendapatkan makna baru. Kalau bersedia, bernyanyilah bersamaku. Masih ada waktu sebelum gelap. Waktu yang paling indah. ↗

— Hitoshi Ashinano

#modesty #mono-no-aware #music #music

Having a low opinion of yourself is not 'modesty.' It's self-destruction. Holding your uniqueness in high regard is not 'egotism.' It's a necessary precondition to happiness and success. ↗

— Bobbe Sommer

#happiness #modesty #opinion #precondition #regard

I am sufficiently proud of my knowing something to be modest about my not knowing all. ↗

— Vladimir Nabokov

#hubris #humble #modesty #ego