But you're wrong about that hating business. I mean about…
““But you're wrong about that hating business. I mean about hating football players and all. You really are. I don't hate too many guys. What I may do, I may hate them for a little while, like this guy Stradlater I knew at Pencey or this other boy, Robert Ackley. I hated them once in a while- I admit it- but it doesn't last too long, is what I mean. After a while, if I didn't see them, if they didn't come in the room, or if I din't see them in the dining room for a couple of meals, I sort of missed them. I mean I sort of missed them.””
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 fleeting dislike for peers, but those feelings fade and turn into a subtle longing when absent.
In simple terms: Short‑term dislike turns into missing them later.
Key Takeaway
Recognize that temporary resentment may mask deeper connection.
Themes
relationships
emotions
transience
Mood
reflective
nostalgic
Type
literary
character study
When to use this quote
- school life
- friendships
- social circles
- reconciliation
Key Concepts
attachment
resentment
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we miss people we once disliked?
- How can brief animosity affect long‑term bonds?
A Different Perspective
Feelings can be contradictory and evolve over time.