And, after boasting this way of my tolerance, I come to…
“And, after boasting this way of my tolerance, I come to the admission that it has a limit. Conduct may be founded on the hard rock or the wet marshes, but after a certain point I don’t care what it’s founded on. When I came back from the East last autumn I felt that I wanted the world to be in uniform and at a sort of moral attention forever; I wanted no more riotous excursions with privileged glimpses into the human heart. Only Gatsby, the man who gives his name to this book, was exempt from my reaction—Gatsby, who represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The narrator admits his tolerance has limits and prefers uniformity, yet he despises most people except Gatsby, who embodies what he scorns.
In simple terms: He tolerates only so much and dislikes most, except Gatsby.
Key Takeaway
Recognize personal limits and biases.
Themes
tolerance
uniformity
scorn
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- literary analysis
- ethical judgment
Key Concepts
existentialism
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the narrator’s selective tolerance reveal about his values?
- Why is Gatsby an exception?