Oh, it's always the same,' she sighed, 'if you want men to behave well to you, you must be beastly to them; if you treat them decently they make you suffer for it.
The quote reflects a resigned perspective on relationships between men and women. The speaker expresses that kindness towards men seems to invite mistreatment in return, suggesting a frustrating dynamic in interactions. Her sigh indicates a sense of weariness with the pattern she observes.
This sentiment reveals a deeper commentary on societal expectations and the complexities of human behavior in romantic and social contexts. It suggests that conventional approaches of decency and respect may be misunderstood or exploited, leading to emotional pain or difficulty.
