--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He looked like a man who had gained…" description: "\"“He looked like a man who had gained confidence through exposure to a hostile environment; like one who no longer owed anything to anyone.”\" — Amor Towles" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/amor-towles-1249_confidence_he-looked-like-a-man-who-had-gained-conf_2182671.png" --- # He looked like a man who had gained confidence through… ![“He looked like a man who had gained confidence through exposure to a hostile environment; like one who no longer owed anything to anyone.” quote by Amor Towles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/amor-towles-1249_confidence_he-looked-like-a-man-who-had-gained-conf_2182671.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/amor-towles-1249_confidence_he-looked-like-a-man-who-had-gained-conf_2182671.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/amor-towles-1249_confidence_he-looked-like-a-man-who-had-gained-conf_2182671.png) > ““He looked like a man who had gained confidence through exposure to a hostile environment; like one who no longer owed anything to anyone.”” [Amor Towles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A man gains confidence after surviving a harsh environment, freeing him from obligations to others. **In simple terms:** Surviving hardship builds confidence and independence. Key Takeaway Leverage adversity to become self-reliant. Themes confidence independence adversity Mood thoughtful inspirational Type literary character When to use this quote - career challenges - personal growth - social interactions Key Concepts psychology social dynamics resilience Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities come with newfound confidence? - How to balance independence with community? A Different Perspective Confidence may lead to isolation or arrogance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Hostile environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hostile-environment/) ## Related quotes > [“As for those who state that it is thanks to a woman, the lady Eve, that man was expelled from paradise, my answer to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-de-pizan/as-for-those-who-state-that-it-is-thanks-to-a-woman-the-lady-eve-that/) [Christine de Pizan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-de-pizan/) > [“behind. I gained confidence when others left. He quit? I would ask myself. At that? In the time since I finished SEAL training, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/behind-i-gained-confidence-when-others-left-he-quit-i-would-ask/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have always wanted to speak in English. Even if I wasn't fluent, I'd still speak. People used to make fun of me but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardik-pandya/i-have-always-wanted-to-speak-in-english-even-if-i-wasn-t-fluent-i-d/) [Hardik Pandya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardik-pandya/) > [When I was younger, I found it incredibly intimidating to audition for anything. As I've gotten older and had more experience and gained more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-perry/when-i-was-younger-i-found-it-incredibly-intimidating-to-audition-for/) [Zoe Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-perry/) > [I was extremely shy, but since college, I think I have opened up and gained confidence. I find it much easier to make friends,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-amboyer/i-was-extremely-shy-but-since-college-i-think-i-have-opened-up-and/) [Dan Amboyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-amboyer/) > [My AIESEC exchange helped me grow personally and professionally. I have gained confidence while meeting new people and I have become more aware of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-yee/my-aiesec-exchange-helped-me-grow-personally-and-professionally-i/) Kimberly Yee > [That's my success, if you want to call it that: I've gained confidence about what I write and what I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-evans/that-s-my-success-if-you-want-to-call-it-that-i-ve-gained-confidence/) [Lee Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-evans/) > [After coming to the Bigg Boss' house, my perspective towards this relationship has changed and I have gained confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rubina-dilaik/after-coming-to-the-bigg-boss-house-my-perspective-towards-this/) [Rubina Dilaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rubina-dilaik/) > [As I got into high school I sort of came into my own and gained some confidence and, luckily, wasn't really bullied by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-purser/as-i-got-into-high-school-i-sort-of-came-into-my-own-and-gained-some/) [Shannon Purser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-purser/) > [I've gradually gained more confidence swimming for distance in the open sea, but I still return to the rock pools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-bonner/i-ve-gradually-gained-more-confidence-swimming-for-distance-in-the/) [Raymond Bonner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-bonner/) > [I've just gained so much confidence in the booth since the 'Sit Still Look Pretty' era. I'm working with really talented producers and songwriters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daya/i-ve-just-gained-so-much-confidence-in-the-booth-since-the-sit-still/) [Daya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daya/) > [By letting go of my fears and concerns, I've gained so much happiness and freedom. With that freedom I've also gained confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-claudio/by-letting-go-of-my-fears-and-concerns-i-ve-gained-so-much-happiness/) [Sabrina Claudio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-claudio/) > [I have gained confidence in front of the camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neha-dhupia/i-have-gained-confidence-in-front-of-the-camera/) [Neha Dhupia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neha-dhupia/) > [I had gained so much confidence through my college achievements that I wanted to tackle the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-gained-so-much-confidence-through-my-college-achievements-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [With age, I've gained confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-holmes/with-age-i-ve-gained-confidence/) [Katie Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-holmes/) ## More by Amor Towles > [“To have even one year when you're presented with choices that can alter your circumstances, your character, your course- that's by the grace of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/to-have-even-one-year-when-you-re-presented-with-choices-that-can/) [Amor Towles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/) > [“Rather than sitting in orderly rows in a schoolhouse, wouldn't one be better served by working her way towards an actual horizon, so that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/rather-than-sitting-in-orderly-rows-in-a-schoolhouse-wouldn-t-one-be/) [Amor Towles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/) > [That's how quickly New York City comes about - like a weather wane - or the head of a cobra. Time tells which.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/that-s-how-quickly-new-york-city-comes-about-like-a-weather-wane-or/) [Amor Towles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/) > [“Mostly, he said, I've been thinking about what I'm not going to do. When I think of the last few years, I've been hounded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/mostly-he-said-i-ve-been-thinking-about-what-i-m-not-going-to-do-when/) [Amor Towles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/) > [“In the doleful court behind my building a patchwork of windows was all that separated me from a hundred muted lives being led without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/in-the-doleful-court-behind-my-building-a-patchwork-of-windows-was/) [Amor Towles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/) > [“That is how time passes when one is left waiting unaccountably. The hours become interminable. The minutes relentless. And the seconds? Why, not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/that-is-how-time-passes-when-one-is-left-waiting-unaccountably-the/) [Amor Towles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/) > [“Mishka would pine for Katerina the rest of his life! Never again would he walk Nevsky Prospekt, however they chose to rename it, without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/mishka-would-pine-for-katerina-the-rest-of-his-life-never-again-would/) [Amor Towles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/) > [Every year, I would spend weeks at a time in the hotels of distant cities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/every-year-i-would-spend-weeks-at-a-time-in-the-hotels-of-distant/) [Amor Towles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/) > [“For eventually, we come to hold our dearest possessions more closely than we hold our friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/for-eventually-we-come-to-hold-our-dearest-possessions-more-closely/) [Amor Towles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/) > [“As we age, we are bound to find comfort from the notion that it takes generations for a way of life to fade. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/as-we-age-we-are-bound-to-find-comfort-from-the-notion-that-it-takes/) [Amor Towles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/) > [“For it is the role of the parent to express his concerns and then take three steps back. Not one, mind you, not two,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/for-it-is-the-role-of-the-parent-to-express-his-concerns-and-then/) [Amor Towles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/) > [“But I've come to realie that however blue my circumstance,s if after finishing a chapter of a Dickens novel I feel a miss-my-stop-on-the-train sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/but-i-ve-come-to-realie-that-however-blue-my-circumstance-s-if-after/) [Amor Towles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/) > [I make extensive outlines before I write a book. I usually know what will happen. I know the characters, and I know what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/i-make-extensive-outlines-before-i-write-a-book-i-usually-know-what/) [Amor Towles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/) > [“Sometimes,” Nina clarified, “everybody tells you something because they are everybody. But why should one listen to everybody? Did everybody write the Odyssey? Did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/sometimes-nina-clarified-everybody-tells-you-something-because-they/) [Amor Towles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/) > [“For it is a fact that a man can be profoundly out of step with his times. A man may have been born in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/for-it-is-a-fact-that-a-man-can-be-profoundly-out-of-step-with-his/) [Amor Towles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/) [Explore all 266 Amor Towles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/) ## More Confidence quotes > [The CIA has concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump win the presidency rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/the-cia-has-concluded-in-a-secret-assessment-that-russia-intervened/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [I was just confident my work was good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bunny-yeager/i-was-just-confident-my-work-was-good/) [Bunny Yeager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bunny-yeager/) > [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [My friend made me a leather dress for the MTV awards. It gives you confidence, wearing something you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-deeley/my-friend-made-me-a-leather-dress-for-the-mtv-awards-it-gives-you/) [Cat Deeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-deeley/) > [Confidence comes from cutting yourself some slack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-daly/confidence-comes-from-cutting-yourself-some-slack/) [Tess Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-daly/) > [I would rather regret the things that I have done than the things that I have not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-ball/i-would-rather-regret-the-things-that-i-have-done-than-the-things/) [Lucille Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-ball/) > [You want to remain hungry and stay in a good place as a competitor; at the same time, you want to be confident but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/you-want-to-remain-hungry-and-stay-in-a-good-place-as-a-competitor-at/) [Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/) > [Get to know yourself well enough to not only expect, but also control, your response to the unexpected challenges in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/get-to-know-yourself-well-enough-to-not-only-expect-but-also-control/) Senoraroy > [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I look for someone who has confidence. Also someone whose energetic, cause I'm NOT that energetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/i-look-for-someone-who-has-confidence-also-someone-whose-energetic/) [Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/) > [Why shouldn't I be confident? I'm well educated, I can deliver a line, and I have more than three expressions. That's good right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonakshi-sinha/why-shouldn-t-i-be-confident-i-m-well-educated-i-can-deliver-a-line/) [Sonakshi Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonakshi-sinha/) > [I was very confident on the stage, and I stood out in a red gown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-johnson/i-was-very-confident-on-the-stage-and-i-stood-out-in-a-red-gown/) [Nicole Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-johnson/) > [If you go to any nunnery and ask them what the main obstacle is, they'll always say low self-esteem and lack of confidence. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/if-you-go-to-any-nunnery-and-ask-them-what-the-main-obstacle-is-they/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) [Browse all 11,290 Confidence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He looked like a man who had gained confidence through exposure to a hostile environment; like one who no longer owed anything to anyone.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Amor Towles" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/he-looked-like-a-man-who-had-gained-confidence-through-exposure-to-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Confidence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/he-looked-like-a-man-who-had-gained-confidence-through-exposure-to-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/amor-towles-1249_confidence_he-looked-like-a-man-who-had-gained-conf_2182671.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/amor-towles-1249_confidence_he-looked-like-a-man-who-had-gained-conf_2182671.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/amor-towles-1249_confidence_he-looked-like-a-man-who-had-gained-conf_2182671.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He looked like a man who had gained confidence through exposure to a hostile environment; like one who no…” — Amor Towles", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Amor Towles", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“He looked like a man who...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/he-looked-like-a-man-who-had-gained-confidence-through-exposure-to-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/he-looked-like-a-man-who-had-gained-confidence-through-exposure-to-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```