Confidence Quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald
““In consequence I'm inclined to reserve all judgements, a habit that has opened up many curious natures to me and also made me the victim of not a few veteran bores. The abnormal mind is quick to detect and attach itself to this quality when it appears in a normal person, and so it came that in college I was unjustly accused of being a politician, because I was privy to the secret griefs of wild, unknown men. Most of the confidences were unsought - frequently I have feigned sleep, preoccupation or a hostile levity when I realized by some unmistakable sign that an intimate revelation was quivering on the horizon - for the intimate revelations of young men or at least the terms in which they express them are usually plagaristic and marred by obvious suppressions.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, 1925
The narrator prefers to with judgment, which lets him encounter diverse personalities but also attracts criticism and misunderstanding.
In simple terms: Holding back judgment opens doors but can cause misinterpretation.
Key Takeaway
Practice open‑minded listening while staying aware of bias.
Themes
judgment
curiosity
social interaction
Mood
reflective
analytical
introspective
Type
aphilosophical
literary
observational
When to use this quote
- college conversations
- meeting new people
- confiding in friends
- observing strangers
- reading literature
Key Concepts
psychology
literary observation
self‑awareness
Questions to Reflect On
- How does withholding judgment affect your relationships?
- When might it be necessary to judge quickly?
A Different Perspective
Being overly non‑judgmental may lead to being taken advantage of or misread by others.
