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One has never known a good man to whom dogs were not dear; but many of the best women have no such fondness. You will find that the woman who is really kind to dogs is always one who has failed to inspire sympathy in men. For the attractive woman, dogs are mere dumb and restless brutes - possibly dangerous, certainly soulless. Yet will coquetry teach her to caress any dog in the presence of a man enslaved by her.

Max Beerbohm#15

RelationshipsGenderGender rolesPetsSocial norms

About this quote

What does it mean?
The author claims women who are kind to dogs often fail to attract men, while attractive women use dogs to impress men.
In plain terms
Kind women love dogs, but attractive women only like them to please men.
What can you take from it?
Motivations for kindness can be influenced by social expectations.

Where it applies

  • dating
  • social judgment
  • pet ownership

Putting it to work

  • be genuine
  • question motives

Questions to consider

  • Do motives matter in kindness?
  • How do gender roles affect pets?

Another view

This generalization overlooks individual differences and modern views on gender.

More from Max Beerbohm

  1. The dullard's envy of brilliant men is always assuaged by the suspicion that they will come to a bad end.

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  2. He heard that whenever a woman was to blame for a disappointment, the best way to avoid a scene was to inculpate oneself.

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  3. For a young man, sleep is a sure solvent of distress. There whirls not for him in the night any so hideous phantasmagoria as will not become, in the clarity of…

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