The common idea that success spoils people by making them vain, egotistic and self-complacent is erroneous; on the contrary it makes them, for the most part, humble, tolerant and kind.
W. Somerset MaughamRead
"Do you like card tricks?" "No, I hate card tricks," I answered. "Well, I`ll just show you this one." He showed me three.
Interpretation
This quote humorously depicts a situation where someone dislikes card tricks but is shown them anyway.
In this quote, W. Somerset Maugham captures a humorous dialog where the speaker, despite expressing a strong aversion to card tricks, is nonetheless subjected to experiencing them. This not only highlights the persistence of the other person but also underscores the absurdity of forcing someone to engage with something they dislike, often leading to comedic outcomes.
In practice
This quote could be used in a comedy stand-up routine to illustrate the absurdity of trying to change someone's preferences.
The common idea that success spoils people by making them vain, egotistic and self-complacent is erroneous; on the contrary it makes them, for the most part, humble, tolerant and kind.
Cronshaw stopped for a moment to drink. He had pondered for twenty years the problem whether he loved liquor because it made him talk or whether he loved conversation because it made him thirsty.
Are you sure you can prevent yourself from falling in love one of these days? Such things do happen, you know, even to the most prudent men.' Simon gave him a strange, one might even have thought a hostile, look. I should tear it out of my heart as I'd wrench out of my mouth a rotten tooth.
I don't think of the past. The only thing that matters is the everlasting present.
The world is quickly bored by the recital of misfortune, and willing avoids the sight of distress.
There in the mist, enormous, majestic, silent and terrible, stood the Great Wall of China. Solitarily, with the indifference of nature herself, it crept up the mountain side and slipped down to the depth of the valley.
The New York papers have long known that no large question is ever really settled until I have been consulted.
President Bush has embarked on an eight-day tour of the continent. He hopes this one goes better than the other ones he's made recently. Obviously he's not doing that well in North America [on screen: '36% Approval'], his South American trip had a few bumps [on screen: 'Angry mobs of torch-carrying bumps'], Europe seems to think the president doesn't care what they think, but hey, who cares what they think? They could at least thank him for what he's done for their burning effigy industry.
I will not eat oysters. I want my food dead - not sick, not wounded - dead.
Eisenhower admitted that the budget can't be balanced and McCarthy said the communists are taking over. You don't know what to worry about these days - whether the country will be overthrown or overdrawn.
Animal lover that I am, a cougar I am not.
If you can make someone laugh who's dead set against you, that's the first step to winning them over to your side.
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