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I never ask my wife about my flaws. Instead I try to get her to ignore them and concentrate on my sense of humor. You don't want any woman to look under the carpet because there's lots of flaws underneath. Joanne believes my character in a film we did together, "Mr. and Mrs. Bridge" comes closest to who I really am. I personally don't think there's one character who comes close... but I learned a long time ago not to disagree on things that I don't have a solid opinion about.
Paul Newman
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote reflects the idea of focusing on positive qualities rather than flaws in relationships.

In this quote, Paul Newman humorously addresses the nature of relationships, particularly marriage, suggesting that instead of confronting personal flaws, it’s often better to highlight positive traits, such as humor. He acknowledges the complexity of human character and the possible discord between reality and how we present ourselves, emphasizing the importance of acceptance and understanding in intimate relationships.

Themes

RelationshipsHumorFlawsAcceptanceLove

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used in a speech about the importance of humor in sustaining relationships.

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I respect generosity in people, and I respect it in companies too, I don't look at it as philanthropy; I see it as an investment in the community.
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