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I'm inclined to reserve all judgement, a habit that has opened up many curious natures to me and made me the victim of not a few veteran bores. The abnormal mind is quick to detect and attach itself to this quality when it appears in a normal person, and so it came about that in college I was unjustly accused of being a politician, because I was privy to the secret griefs of wild, unknown men.
F. Scott Fitzgerald
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote reflects on the importance of withholding judgment to understand others better, even at the risk of misinterpretation.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's quote emphasizes the value of reserving judgment in interactions with others, suggesting that this practice can lead to deeper connections and insights into people's lives. He acknowledges that by being open and curious about others’ experiences, one may inadvertently attract the attention of those who are different or misunderstood. This openness can create misunderstandings, such as being misidentified as a politician due to the depth of understanding shown toward marginalized individuals.

Themes

JudgmentUnderstandingCuriosityConnectionsMisunderstanding

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about empathy, I could use this quote to illustrate the importance of understanding others.

More from F. Scott Fitzgerald

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The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.
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It was about then [1920] that I wrote a line which certain people will not let me forget: "She was a faded but still lovely woman of twenty-seven."
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But you can love more than just one person, can't you?
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A sudden gust of rain blew over them and then another - as if small liquid clouds were bouncing along the land. Lightning entered the sea far off and the air blew full of crackling thunder. The table cloths blew around the pillars. They blew and blew and blew. The flags twisted around the red chairs like live things, the banners were ragged, the corners of the table tore off through the burbling billowing ends of the cloths.
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