---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the meantime: (1) be direct; (2)…"
description: "\"“In the meantime: (1) be direct; (2) remember that, being smarter than men, women respond to courtesy and kindness; (3) if you want to know what kind o..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38a/david-mamet-1178_advice_in-the-meantime-1-be-direct-2-remember-t_2268695.jpg"
---

#  In the meantime: (1) be direct; (2) remember that, being…

![“In the meantime: (1) be direct; (2) remember that, being smarter than men, women respond to courtesy and kindness; (3) if you want to know what kind of a wife someone will make, observe her around her father and mother; (4) as to who gets out of the elevator first, I just can't help you.” quote by David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38a/david-mamet-1178_advice_in-the-meantime-1-be-direct-2-remember-t_2268695.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38a/david-mamet-1178_advice_in-the-meantime-1-be-direct-2-remember-t_2268695.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38a/david-mamet-1178_advice_in-the-meantime-1-be-direct-2-remember-t_2268695.jpg)

> ““In the meantime: (1) be direct; (2) remember that, being smarter than men, women respond to courtesy and kindness; (3) if you want to know what kind of a wife someone will make, observe her around her father and mother; (4) as to who gets out of the elevator first, I just can't help you.””

[David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Advice on interpersonal strategy: be straightforward, treat women with respect, assess character by family behavior, and admit uncertainty in trivial matters.

**In simple terms:** Be clear, kind, judge character by family, admit limits.

Key Takeaway

Apply directness and courtesy, observe family dynamics, accept unknowns.

Themes

communication relationships judgment

Mood

pragmatic analytical

Type

advice observational

When to use this quote

- business negotiations
- dating
- family gatherings
- team leadership

Key Concepts

psychology social dynamics gender norms

Questions to Reflect On

- How does courtesy influence trust?
- What can family behavior reveal about a person?

A Different Perspective

May overgeneralize gender behavior and ignore individual differences.

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[Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Courtesy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courtesy/) [Father And Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father-and-mother/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/)

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