Takaie was known as a person of true moral character, criticizing Emperor Ichijo, who had denied investiture of Imperial Prince Atsuyasu as the crown prince, who was a son of Sadako, Takaie's older sister, as a 'brutish man'; refusing to yield in the face of harassment by the powerful FUJIWARA no Michinaga, and being responsible for the offices of Emperor Sanjo's Empress FUJIWARA no Seishi.
姉定子の生んだ敦康親王の立太子を拒否した一条天皇を「人非人」と非難したり、権力者藤原道長の嫌がらせに屈せず三条天皇皇后藤原せい子の皇后宮職を引き受けたりするなど、気骨のある人物として知られた。