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I like [John Cardinal O'Connor] a lot. He - I started a…

“I like [John Cardinal O'Connor] a lot. He - I started a - to know him - when I asked William Shawn at The New Yorker, 'Sh - can I do a profile of Cardinal O'Connor?' He said, 'All right. Find out what he's like.' So I went to his office, and I heard somebody - and it turned out to be O'Connor…” quote by Nat Hentoff
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“I like [John Cardinal O'Connor] a lot. He - I started a - to know him - when I asked William Shawn at The New Yorker, 'Sh - can I do a profile of Cardinal O'Connor?' He said, 'All right. Find out what he's like.' So I went to his office, and I heard somebody - and it turned out to be O'Connor - yelling outside, and I've never heard him since raise his voice.”

Nat Hentoff

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A journalist was tasked to profile Cardinal O’Connor and discovered his unexpected, fierce side when he heard him shouting, revealing a hidden intensity.

In simple terms: A journalist discovered a surprising side of Cardinal O’Connor.

Key Takeaway

Look beyond first impressions.

Themes

journalism personality revelation

Mood

curious reflective

Type

observational anecdotal

When to use this quote

  • interview preparation
  • profile writing
  • understanding subjects
  • handling surprise reactions

Key Concepts

human behavior unexpected traits media profiling

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you balance a striking incident with overall character?
  • What other traits might be overlooked?
A Different Perspective

The anecdote may overemphasize a single moment, not representing the whole person.

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