--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Reading his autobiography many years…" description: "\"“Reading his autobiography many years later, I was astonished to find that Edward since boyhood had—not unlike Isaiah Berlin—often felt himself ungainl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af0/christopher-hitchens-117_admired_reading-his-autobiography-many-years-lat_3057336.jpg" --- # Reading his autobiography many years later, I was… ![“Reading his autobiography many years later, I was astonished to find that Edward since boyhood had—not unlike Isaiah Berlin—often felt himself ungainly and ill-favored and awkward in bearing. He had always seemed to me quite the reverse: a touch dandyish perhaps but—as the saying goes—perfectly…” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af0/christopher-hitchens-117_admired_reading-his-autobiography-many-years-lat_3057336.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af0/christopher-hitchens-117_admired_reading-his-autobiography-many-years-lat_3057336.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af0/christopher-hitchens-117_admired_reading-his-autobiography-many-years-lat_3057336.jpg) > ““Reading his autobiography many years later, I was astonished to find that Edward since boyhood had—not unlike Isaiah Berlin—often felt himself ungainly and ill-favored and awkward in bearing. He had always seemed to me quite the reverse: a touch dandyish perhaps but—as the saying goes—perfectly secure in his masculinity. On one occasion, after lunch in Georgetown, he took me with him to a renowned local tobacconist and asked to do something I had never witnessed before: 'try on' a pipe. In case you ever wish to do this, here is the form: a solemn assistant produces a plastic envelope and fits it over the amber or ivory mouthpiece. You then clamp your teeth down to feel if the 'fit' and weight are easy to your jaw. If not, then repeat with various stems until your browsing is complete. In those days I could have inhaled ten cigarettes and drunk three Tanqueray martinis in the time spent on such flaneur flippancy, but I admired the commitment to smoking nonetheless. Taking coffee with him once in a shopping mall in Stanford, I saw him suddenly register something over my shoulder. It was a ladies' dress shop. He excused himself and dashed in, to emerge soon after with some fashionable and costly looking bags. 'Mariam,' he said as if by way of explanation, 'has never worn anything that I have not bought for her.' On another occasion in Manhattan, after acting as a magnificent, encyclopedic guide around the gorgeous Andalusia ( Al-Andalus ) exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, he was giving lunch to Carol and to me when she noticed that her purse had been lost or stolen. At once, he was at her service, not only suggesting shops in the vicinity where a replacement might be found, but also offering to be her guide and advisor until she had selected a suitable new sac à main . I could no more have proposed myself for such an expedition than suggested myself as a cosmonaut, so what this says about my own heterosexual confidence I leave to others.”” [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hitchens recounts observing a charismatic, confident man whose quirks reveal deeper insecurities, illustrating how outward poise can mask inner doubts. **In simple terms:** Confidence can hide insecurity. Key Takeaway Notice hidden insecurities behind confidence. Themes Look beyond surface confidence. Mood curious thoughtful analytical Type essay observational philosophical When to use this quote - psychology - social perception - identity Key Concepts confidence insecurity observation social dynamics masculinity Practical Applications - meeting new people - social networking - personal introspection - reading body language Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions do you make about confidence? - How can you see beyond first impressions? A Different Perspective The anecdote may overgeneralize one person's behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Autobiography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autobiography/) [Edward-said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/edward-said/) [Heterosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heterosexuality/) [Manhattan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manhattan/) [Masculinity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masculinity/) [Modern art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern-art/) [Pipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pipes/) [Self confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-confidence/) [Shyness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shyness/) [Smoking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smoking/) ## Related quotes > [“Hitherto, the Palestinians had been relatively immune to this Allahu Akhbar style. I thought this was a hugely retrograde development. I said as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/hitherto-the-palestinians-had-been-relatively-immune-to-this-allahu/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“During the 1992 election I concluded as early as my first visit to New Hampshire that Bill Clinton was hateful in his behavior to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/during-the-1992-election-i-concluded-as-early-as-my-first-visit-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Edward genially enough did not dis agree with what I said, but he didn't seem to admit my point, either. I wanted to press…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/edward-genially-enough-did-not-dis-agree-with-what-i-said-but-he-didn/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“There came an awful day when I picked up the phone and knew at once, as one does with some old friends even before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/there-came-an-awful-day-when-i-picked-up-the-phone-and-knew-at-once/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Edward had a personal horror of violence and never endorsed or excused it, though in a documentary he made about the conflict he said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/edward-had-a-personal-horror-of-violence-and-never-endorsed-or/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Inevitably came the time when he angrily repudiated his former paladin Yasser Arafat. In fact, he described him to me as 'the Palestinian blend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/inevitably-came-the-time-when-he-angrily-repudiated-his-former/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Some lurid things have been said about me—that I am a racist, a hopeless alcoholic, a closet homosexual and so forth—that I leave to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/some-lurid-things-have-been-said-about-me-that-i-am-a-racist-a/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“I had not particularly liked the way in which he wrote about literature in Beginnings , and I was always on my guard if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/i-had-not-particularly-liked-the-way-in-which-he-wrote-about/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“He was so much the picture of different kinds of assimilation that it was almost a case of multiple personalities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/he-was-so-much-the-picture-of-different-kinds-of-assimilation-that-it/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“I was to grow used to hearing, around New York, the annoying way in which people would say: 'Edward Said, such a suave and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/i-was-to-grow-used-to-hearing-around-new-york-the-annoying-way-in/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“I certainly didn't concur with Edward on everything, but I was damned if I would hear him abused without saying a word. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/i-certainly-didn-t-concur-with-edward-on-everything-but-i-was-damned/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“I resolutely refuse to believe that the state of Edward's health had anything to do with this, and I don't say this only because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/i-resolutely-refuse-to-believe-that-the-state-of-edward-s-health-had/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Though he never actually joined it, he was close to some civilian elements of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/though-he-never-actually-joined-it-he-was-close-to-some-civilian/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“As he defended the book one evening in the early 1980s at the Carnegie Endowment in New York, I knew that some of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/as-he-defended-the-book-one-evening-in-the-early-1980s-at-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“It was at a conference in Cyprus in 1976, where the theme was the rights of small nations, that I first met Edward Said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-was-at-a-conference-in-cyprus-in-1976-where-the-theme-was-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## More by Christopher Hitchens > [“The spirit of our accurate and exact philosophy is outraged by conclusions that contradict each other so glaringly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-spirit-of-our-accurate-and-exact-philosophy-is-outraged-by/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Many governments employ torture but this was the first time that the element of Saturnalia and pornography in the process had been made so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/many-governments-employ-torture-but-this-was-the-first-time-that-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [ It's \[Los Angeles\] mostly full of nonsense and delusion and egomania. They think they'll be young and beautiful forever, even though most of them… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-los-angeles-mostly-full-of-nonsense-and-delusion-and-egomania/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [To be against rationalization is not the same as to be opposed to reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/to-be-against-rationalization-is-not-the-same-as-to-be-opposed-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [ \[Religion\] attacks us in our deepest integrity - the core of our self-respect. 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Why are we praised by godly men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/gullibility-and-credulity-are-considered-undesireable-qualities-in/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's much worse to see a woman drunk than a man: I don't know quite why this is true but it just is. 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I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/the-creation-of-george-smiley-the-retired-spy-recalled-to-hunt-for/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [I suppose I'm led to do so by the fact of what happened to my contemporaries - people whom I've admired, people who I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-woodcock/i-suppose-i-m-led-to-do-so-by-the-fact-of-what-happened-to-my/) [George Woodcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-woodcock/) > [I always admired virtue - but I could never imitate it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-always-admired-virtue-but-i-could-never-imitate-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've always looked at guys who I've admired, like John Williams and Lalo Schifrin and Max Steiner, and looked at the choices they made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-giacchino/i-ve-always-looked-at-guys-who-i-ve-admired-like-john-williams-and/) [Michael Giacchino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-giacchino/) > [Admired as a saint, defined by my rank. 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On one occasion, after lunch in Georgetown, he took me with him to a renowned local tobacconist and asked to do something I had never witnessed before: 'try on' a pipe. In case you ever wish to do this, here is the form: a solemn assistant produces a plastic envelope and fits it over the amber or ivory mouthpiece. You then clamp your teeth down to feel if the 'fit' and weight are easy to your jaw. If not, then repeat with various stems until your browsing is complete. In those days I could have inhaled ten cigarettes and drunk three Tanqueray martinis in the time spent on such flaneur flippancy, but I admired the commitment to smoking nonetheless. Taking coffee with him once in a shopping mall in Stanford, I saw him suddenly register something over my shoulder. It was a ladies' dress shop. He excused himself and dashed in, to emerge soon after with some fashionable and costly looking bags. 'Mariam,' he said as if by way of explanation, 'has never worn anything that I have not bought for her.' On another occasion in Manhattan, after acting as a magnificent, encyclopedic guide around the gorgeous Andalusia ( Al-Andalus ) exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, he was giving lunch to Carol and to me when she noticed that her purse had been lost or stolen. At once, he was at her service, not only suggesting shops in the vicinity where a replacement might be found, but also offering to be her guide and advisor until she had selected a suitable new sac à main . I could no more have proposed myself for such an expedition than suggested myself as a cosmonaut, so what this says about my own heterosexual confidence I leave to others.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Christopher Hitchens" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/reading-his-autobiography-many-years-later-i-was-astonished-to-find/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Admired" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/reading-his-autobiography-many-years-later-i-was-astonished-to-find/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af0/christopher-hitchens-117_admired_reading-his-autobiography-many-years-lat_3057336.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af0/christopher-hitchens-117_admired_reading-his-autobiography-many-years-lat_3057336.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af0/christopher-hitchens-117_admired_reading-his-autobiography-many-years-lat_3057336.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Reading his autobiography many years later, I was astonished to find that Edward since boyhood had—not…” — Christopher Hitchens", "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": "Christopher Hitchens", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Reading his autobiography many years later,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/reading-his-autobiography-many-years-later-i-was-astonished-to-find/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/reading-his-autobiography-many-years-later-i-was-astonished-to-find/#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 } } ] } ```