What am I to call it? Diffidence? The fear of ridicule?…
““What am I to call it? Diffidence? The fear of ridicule? Inverted vanity? What matters names, if it has brought me to this? I could never bear to be bustling about nothing; I was ashamed of this toy kingdom from the first; I could not tolerate that people should fancy I believed in a thing so patently absurd! I would do nothing that cannot be done smiling. I have a sense of humour, forsooth! I must know better than my Maker. And it was the same thing in my marriage," he added more hoarsely. "I did not believe this girl could care for me; I must not intrude; I must preserve the foppery of my indifference. What an impotent picture!" "Ay, we have the same blood," moralised Gotthold. "You are drawing, with fine strokes, the character of the born sceptic." "Sceptic?—coward!" cried Otto. "Coward is the word. A springless, putty-hearted, cowering coward!””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The speaker wrestles with self‑doubt, fear of ridicule, and the tension between authenticity and social expectation.
In simple terms: Self‑doubt and fear of judgment clash with desire for genuine action.
Key Takeaway
Embrace honesty over fear.
Themes
self‑doubt
authenticity
social pressure
identity
courage
Mood
anxious
reflective
Type
philosophical
dramatic
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- creative work
- public speaking
- decision making
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you hide your true self to avoid judgment?
- How can you act authentically despite fear?
A Different Perspective
Fear of ridicule can paralyze action and distort self‑perception.