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That's obviously, isn't it?' she said. 'A hawk is always a…

“That's obviously, isn't it?' she said. 'A hawk is always a hawk, except'- and here she raised on heavy eyebrow and gave a mysterious smile - 'except when the hawk is a cabbage.' 'What?' Ernest said, grinning and game and clearly perplexed. 'Exactly,' Gertrude said.” quote by Paula McLain
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““That's obviously, isn't it?' she said. 'A hawk is always a hawk, except'- and here she raised on heavy eyebrow and gave a mysterious smile - 'except when the hawk is a cabbage.' 'What?' Ernest said, grinning and game and clearly perplexed. 'Exactly,' Gertrude said.””

Paula McLain

About This Quote

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

A playful, paradoxical statement highlights how expectations can be subverted, urging openness to unexpected possibilities.

In simple terms: Expectations can be flipped; stay open to surprises.

Key Takeaway

Embrace flexibility and question assumptions.

Themes

humor paradox creativity flexibility

Mood

lighthearted thoughtful

Type

narrative dialogue

When to use this quote

  • team brainstorming
  • teaching
  • conflict resolution
  • creative problem solving

Key Concepts

linguistics cognitive bias imagination

Questions to Reflect On

  • When have you encountered a surprising twist?
  • How do you handle contradictory statements?
A Different Perspective

Humor may mask deeper confusion or disagreement.

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