Asking Quote by Dorothy West
“It is a rule of mine never to ask unsolicited questions of people over twenty-one. I am only giving them the option of lying if they choose to. They would tell me the truth without my asking if they wanted me to know. To me that's fair enough.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: “The Living Is by Dorothy West, 1961
She avoids asking older adults personal questions, letting them choose honesty, which she sees as fair.
In simple terms: She respects others’ privacy and honesty.
Key Takeaway
Respect privacy and let truth emerge naturally.
Themes
privacy
honesty
respect
communication
Mood
thoughtful
considerate
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- social gatherings
- interviews
- family conversations
- networking events
Key Concepts
social etiquette
personal boundaries
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you value honesty over curiosity?
- How does respecting privacy affect trust?
A Different Perspective
People may misinterpret silence as disinterest.
![“[Math is] not at all like science. There's no experiment I can do with test tubes and equipment and whatnot that will tell me the truth about a figment of my imagination. The only way to get at the truth about our imaginations is to use our imaginations...” quote by Paul Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3e0/paul-lockhart-18353_can-do_math-is-not-at-all-like-science-there-s_140084.jpg)
