Quote by Henry David Thoreau
The finest manners in the world are awkwardness and fatuity, when contrasted with a finer intelligence.
Summary
This quote suggests that possessing excellent manners is insignificant when compared to having a higher level of intelligence. It implies that being well-mannered or socially graceful could be seen as awkward or foolish when a person lacks intelligence or deeper understanding. In other words, intelligence is emphasized as a superior trait that overrides social pleasantries and trumps superficial manners.