--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [A]s Norman Mailer pointed out decades…" description: "\"“[A]s Norman Mailer pointed out decades ago, and Philip Roth not long afterwards, niceness is the enemy. Every soft stroke from society is like the pff..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57a/adam-begley-35096_quote_a-s-norman-mailer-pointed-out-decades-ag_1330022.jpg" --- # \[A\]s Norman Mailer pointed out decades ago, and Philip… ![“[A]s Norman Mailer pointed out decades ago, and Philip Roth not long afterwards, niceness is the enemy. Every soft stroke from society is like the pfft of an aerosol can as it eats up a few more atoms of our brain’s delicate ozone, and furthers our personal cretinization.” quote by Adam Begley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57a/adam-begley-35096_quote_a-s-norman-mailer-pointed-out-decades-ag_1330022.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57a/adam-begley-35096_quote_a-s-norman-mailer-pointed-out-decades-ag_1330022.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57a/adam-begley-35096_quote_a-s-norman-mailer-pointed-out-decades-ag_1330022.jpg) > ““\[A\]s Norman Mailer pointed out decades ago, and Philip Roth not long afterwards, niceness is the enemy. Every soft stroke from society is like the pfft of an aerosol can as it eats up a few more atoms of our brain’s delicate ozone, and furthers our personal cretinization.”” [Adam Begley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-begley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Excessive niceness dulls critical thought, leading to intellectual stagnation and conformity. **In simple terms:** Too much kindness blunts thinking. Key Takeaway Cultivate healthy skepticism. Themes niceness critical thinking conformity intellectual decay Mood critical thought‑provoking Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - Academic discourse - media criticism - personal development Key Concepts Philosophy psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - When does niceness become harmful? - How to balance kindness and critique? A Different Perspective Kindness can also foster collaboration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Niceness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/niceness/) ## Related quotes > [I'm more interested than Philip Roth in understanding women, even if I do it imperfectly. But that book, Portnoy's Complaint, is literary punk in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karan-mahajan/i-m-more-interested-than-philip-roth-in-understanding-women-even-if-i/) [Karan Mahajan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karan-mahajan/) > [A room containing Philip Roth, I have noticed, begins hilariously to whirl and pulse with a mix of rebelliousness and constriction that I take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/a-room-containing-philip-roth-i-have-noticed-begins-hilariously-to/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [If you were placing bets on which author would write the tenderest, most moving book about fatherhood, Philip Roth would probably come in at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-dolnick/if-you-were-placing-bets-on-which-author-would-write-the-tenderest/) [Ben Dolnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-dolnick/) > [Philip Roth has made a cottage industry of unlikable characters, but compared with Mickey Sabbath, the furious and profane protagonist of 'Sabbath's Theater,' Roth's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-dolnick/philip-roth-has-made-a-cottage-industry-of-unlikable-characters-but/) [Ben Dolnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-dolnick/) > [Philip Roth has been a huge influence on me. The early books I read in my teens and twenties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-englander/philip-roth-has-been-a-huge-influence-on-me-the-early-books-i-read-in/) [Nathan Englander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-englander/) > [Roth Unbound is filled with intelligent readings and smart judgments. Because of the author's sympathy and sharp mind, it offers real insight into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colm-toibin/roth-unbound-is-filled-with-intelligent-readings-and-smart-judgments/) [Colm Toibin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colm-toibin/) > [“Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Philip K. Dick The Secret Meaning of Things, Lawrence Ferlinghetti Fantastic Four #89, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sloan/do-androids-dream-of-electric-sheep-philip-k-dick-the-secret-meaning/) [Robin Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sloan/) > [If I were doing somebody else's script or I adapted a book by Philip Roth, on set there could be a million different interpretations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/if-i-were-doing-somebody-else-s-script-or-i-adapted-a-book-by-philip/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [For me, as a trans writer, is the Philip Roth trajectory available to me? Could I be commenting on American stuff long enough that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/for-me-as-a-trans-writer-is-the-philip-roth-trajectory-available-to/) [Torrey Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-peters/) > [“...Don't tell me he's bisexual! Don't tell me this is more of the guy in the hallway! Don't tell me he wants us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/don-t-tell-me-he-s-bisexual-don-t-tell-me-this-is-more-of-the-guy-in/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [I was completely dumbfounded because not only am I a huge fan of David Simon, but I'm a huge fan of Philip Roth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-spector/i-was-completely-dumbfounded-because-not-only-am-i-a-huge-fan-of/) [Morgan Spector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-spector/) > [I had brief glimpses of emotional catharsis while writing. I remember reading something Philip Roth wrote about how he writes every single day, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-e-clark/i-had-brief-glimpses-of-emotional-catharsis-while-writing-i-remember/) [Annie E. Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-e-clark/) > [I want to write about people I love, and put them into a fictional world spun out of my own mind, not the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/i-want-to-write-about-people-i-love-and-put-them-into-a-fictional-2/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [I loved this smart, funny, big-hearted novel. As hilarious and wise as early Philip Roth, The Mathematician's Shiva will delight and move you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-strogatz/i-loved-this-smart-funny-big-hearted-novel-as-hilarious-and-wise-as/) [Steven Strogatz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-strogatz/) > [Philip Roth is a good writer, but I wouldn't want to shake hands with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-susann/philip-roth-is-a-good-writer-but-i-wouldn-t-want-to-shake-hands-with/) [Jacqueline Susann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-susann/) ## More by Adam Begley > [“The Christian Roommates” is not one of Updike’s best stories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-begley/the-christian-roommates-is-not-one-of-updike-s-best-stories/) [Adam Begley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-begley/) > [“White encouraged Updike’s equally scrupulous commitment. They bonded over dashes, colons, and commas—most amazingly in an exchange of letters in the last two months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-begley/white-encouraged-updike-s-equally-scrupulous-commitment-they-bonded/) [Adam Begley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-begley/) > [“I scuttled without a shell, between houses and wives, a snake between skins, a monster of selfishness, my grotesque needs naked and pink.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-begley/i-scuttled-without-a-shell-between-houses-and-wives-a-snake-between/) [Adam Begley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-begley/) > [“Even more than black death he dreaded the gaudy gate: the mask of sweet red rubber, the violet overhead lights, the rattling ride through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-begley/even-more-than-black-death-he-dreaded-the-gaudy-gate-the-mask-of/) [Adam Begley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-begley/) > [“Updike “describes to no purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-begley/updike-describes-to-no-purpose/) [Adam Begley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-begley/) > [“We forget most of our past but embody all of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-begley/we-forget-most-of-our-past-but-embody-all-of-it/) [Adam Begley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-begley/) > [“The blatancy of the icy-hearted satire repelled me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-begley/the-blatancy-of-the-icy-hearted-satire-repelled-me/) [Adam Begley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-begley/) > [“people don’t entertain you, / Nature will”—is”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-begley/people-don-t-entertain-you-nature-will-is/) [Adam Begley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-begley/) > [“I read and talked into the microphone and was gracious to the local rich, the English faculty and the college president, and the students…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-begley/i-read-and-talked-into-the-microphone-and-was-gracious-to-the-local/) [Adam Begley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-begley/) > [“Updike quashed the voice of his conscience, while at the same time clinging to a “me-first Salvationism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-begley/updike-quashed-the-voice-of-his-conscience-while-at-the-same-time/) [Adam Begley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-begley/) > [“the students with their clear skin and shining eyes and inviting innocence, like a blank surface one wishes to scribble obscenities on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-begley/the-students-with-their-clear-skin-and-shining-eyes-and-inviting/) [Adam Begley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-begley/) > [“the “human need for transcendence should be met with minimal embarrassments to reason,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-begley/the-human-need-for-transcendence-should-be-met-with-minimal/) [Adam Begley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-begley/) [Explore all 13 Adam Begley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-begley/) ## More Niceness quotes > [“People who switch their niceness on and off are not to be trusted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-diamond/people-who-switch-their-niceness-on-and-off-are-not-to-be-trusted/) [Lucy Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-diamond/) > [I hate niceness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starkey/i-hate-niceness/) [David Starkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starkey/) > [One thing that I think never goes out of style is just purity. Niceness and purity. And the Muppets have never lost that. Kermit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-segel/one-thing-that-i-think-never-goes-out-of-style-is-just-purity/) [Jason Segel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-segel/) > [A lot of warm vulgarity is incomparably preferable to a little bit of pinched niceness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-thomas/a-lot-of-warm-vulgarity-is-incomparably-preferable-to-a-little-bit-of/) [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) > [“they were nice in a useless sort of way, which is, after all, the only way to be truly nice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/they-were-nice-in-a-useless-sort-of-way-which-is-after-all-the-only/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [It's a dirty little secret that most New Yorkers are pleasant, thoughtful, patient, and polite. The Chamber of Commerce must work overtime to maintain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-kelman/it-s-a-dirty-little-secret-that-most-new-yorkers-are-pleasant/) [Judith Kelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-kelman/) > [“Kindness connects to who you are, niceness connects to how you want to be seen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/kindness-connects-to-who-you-are-niceness-connects-to-how-you-want-to/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [Human beings need to watch out for reasonless niceness too. It's never reasonless and its reason's not usually nice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/human-beings-need-to-watch-out-for-reasonless-niceness-too-it-s-never/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [This is what happens when nice people are pushed too far. We give too many chances, and so when we've finally had enough, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/this-is-what-happens-when-nice-people-are-pushed-too-far-we-give-too/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [You know how ESPN works; they'll throw themselves into a frenzy over Tebow's white bread lame ass niceness and then vilify Johnny Football just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dabo-swinney/you-know-how-espn-works-they-ll-throw-themselves-into-a-frenzy-over/) [Dabo Swinney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dabo-swinney/) > [“and confused if someone does not appreciate their niceness. Others often sense this and avoid giving them feedback not only, effectively blocking the nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-bryson/and-confused-if-someone-does-not-appreciate-their-niceness-others/) [Kelly Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-bryson/) > [I know it's sappy, but I bet there's a market for civility and niceness out there that, while probably not as titillating as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-weber/i-know-it-s-sappy-but-i-bet-there-s-a-market-for-civility-and/) [Steven Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-weber/) > [“niceness does not equal goodness. Niceness is a decision, a strategy of social interaction; it is not a character trait. People seeking to control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-de-becker/niceness-does-not-equal-goodness-niceness-is-a-decision-a-strategy-of/) [Gavin de Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-de-becker/) > [“If it pains you to discover that a Nice Man can be a crumbum, Tom, it's life you've got to object to, not Percy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellery-queen/if-it-pains-you-to-discover-that-a-nice-man-can-be-a-crumbum-tom-it-s/) [Ellery Queen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellery-queen/) > [“There’s a lot of talk about “niceness” today. People are evaluated on how nicely they play with others and what they contribute to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-weinberg/there-s-a-lot-of-talk-about-niceness-today-people-are-evaluated-on/) [Mike Weinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-weinberg/) [Browse all 105 Niceness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/niceness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“[A]s Norman Mailer pointed out decades ago, and Philip Roth not long afterwards, niceness is the enemy. 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