--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I read the article [in The New…" description: "\"When I read the article [in The New Yorker] by David Grann, I was very struck by people responding to the article, of people thinking I was such a hero..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80e/elizabeth-gilbert-131_articles_when-i-read-the-article-in-the-new-yorke_1458661.jpg" --- # When I read the article \[in The New Yorker\] by David… ![“When I read the article [in The New Yorker] by David Grann, I was very struck by people responding to the article, of people thinking I was such a hero and what a wonderful person I was, and I didn't feel that at all. I felt like I had very much, like Todd [Willingham], taken a path of…” quote by Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80e/elizabeth-gilbert-131_articles_when-i-read-the-article-in-the-new-yorke_1458661.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80e/elizabeth-gilbert-131_articles_when-i-read-the-article-in-the-new-yorke_1458661.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80e/elizabeth-gilbert-131_articles_when-i-read-the-article-in-the-new-yorke_1458661.jpg) > “When I read the article \[in The New Yorker\] by David Grann, I was very struck by people responding to the article, of people thinking I was such a hero and what a wonderful person I was, and I didn't feel that at all. I felt like I had very much, like Todd \[Willingham\], taken a path of self-preservation.” [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She feels misrepresented as a hero, recognizing her actions as self‑preservation rather than greatness. **In simple terms:** She sees herself as protecting herself, not a hero. Key Takeaway Accept how others view you, but stay true to your motives. Themes identity perception humility Mood reflective introspective Type personal philosophical When to use this quote - media interviews - personal branding - public speaking - online criticism Key Concepts self‑preservation public image ego Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile external praise with internal truth? - What drives you to protect yourself? A Different Perspective Self‑image may clash with public expectations, causing inner conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [New yorkers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-yorkers/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Preservation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preservation/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self preservation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-preservation/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wonderful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonderful/) [Wonderful person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonderful-person/) ## Related quotes > [ If Todd \[Willingham\] was guilty of anything, it was just his self-preservation. 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