Done Quote by Cassandra Clare
“That was enterprising," Will sounded nearly impressed. Nate smiled. Tess shot him a furious look. "Don't look pleased with yourself. When Will says 'enterprising' he means 'morally deficient.'" "No, I mean enterprising," said Will. "When I mean morally deficient, I say, 'Now, that's something I would have done'.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare, 2013
The dialogue critiques superficial praise, suggesting that being called 'enterprising' can mask moral shortcomings, urging honesty about one's true motives.
In simple terms: Flattery can hide ethical flaws.
Key Takeaway
Seek authenticity over empty compliments.
Themes
ethics
self-awareness
honesty
perception
critique
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
conversational
literary
When to use this quote
- workplace feedback
- personal relationships
- leadership evaluation
Key Concepts
moral integrity
social dynamics
communication style
Questions to Reflect On
- When have you called out superficial praise?
- How can you balance ambition with morality?
A Different Perspective
The exchange may oversimplify complex motivations.
![“[...] "I recall what you said to me once," Will went on. "That words have the power to change us. Your words have changed me, Tess; they have made me a better man than I would have been otherwise. Life is a book, and there are a thousand pages I have not read. I would read them together with you…” quote by Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8af/cassandra-clare-9_before-i-die_i-recall-what-you-said-to-me-once-will-w_184924.jpg)
![“I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests with ZERO-G [a charter-flight service in Arlington, Va., that uses modified Boeing 727s to simulate weightlessness], which went great.” quote by Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aa1/richard-branson-256_adventure_i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-repl_903.jpg)
