--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In a good-natured way he had almost…" description: "\"“In a good-natured way he had almost decided that Princeton was one part deadly Philistines and one part deadly grinds, and to find a person who could ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64b/f-scott-fitzgerald-72_keats_in-a-good-natured-way-he-had-almost-deci_493600.jpg" --- # In a good-natured way he had almost decided that Princeton… ![“In a good-natured way he had almost decided that Princeton was one part deadly Philistines and one part deadly grinds, and to find a person who could mention Keats without stammering, yet evidently washed his hands, was rather a treat.” quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64b/f-scott-fitzgerald-72_keats_in-a-good-natured-way-he-had-almost-deci_493600.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64b/f-scott-fitzgerald-72_keats_in-a-good-natured-way-he-had-almost-deci_493600.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64b/f-scott-fitzgerald-72_keats_in-a-good-natured-way-he-had-almost-deci_493600.jpg) > ““In a good-natured way he had almost decided that Princeton was one part deadly Philistines and one part deadly grinds, and to find a person who could mention Keats without stammering, yet evidently washed his hands, was rather a treat.”” [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator sees Princeton as a mix of pretentious elitism and relentless hard work, and values someone who can discuss poetry fluently yet appears unpretentious. **In simple terms:** Princeton feels both snobbish and demanding; genuine literary skill is rare. Key Takeaway Seek authentic, unpretentious expertise. Themes class elitism authenticity literature social dynamics Mood reflective ironic Type observational literary When to use this quote - college life - social gatherings - academic circles Key Concepts elitism hard work literary appreciation Questions to Reflect On - Do you value authenticity over status? - How does pretentiousness affect genuine connection? A Different Perspective The quote may romanticize elitism, overlooking broader inclusivity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decided Princeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decided-princeton-4219261/) [Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keats/) [Keats Stammering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keats-stammering-4219259/) [Mention Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mention-keats-4219260/) [Princeton Deadly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/princeton-deadly-4219258/) [This-side-of-paradise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/this-side-of-paradise-190492/) ## Related quotes > [“We want to believe. Young students try to believe in older authors, constituents try to believe in their congressmen, countries try to believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/we-want-to-believe-young-students-try-to-believe-in-older-authors-2/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“He was changed as completely as Amory Blaine could ever be changed. Amory plus Beatrice plus two years in Minneapolis - these had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/he-was-changed-as-completely-as-amory-blaine-could-ever-be-changed/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“Always, after he was in bed, there were voices - indefinite, fading, enchanting - just outside his window, and before he fell asleep he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/always-after-he-was-in-bed-there-were-voices-indefinite-fading/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“Good luck to you and bad luck to your theories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/good-luck-to-you-and-bad-luck-to-your-theories/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“So Walter Arensberg, Alfred Kreymborg, Carl Sandburg, Louis Untermeyer, Eunice Tietjens, Clara Shanafelt, James Oppenheim, Maxwell Bodenheim, Richard Glaenzer, Scharmel Iris, Conrad Aiken, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-scott-fitzgerald/so-walter-arensberg-alfred-kreymborg-carl-sandburg-louis-untermeyer/) [Francis Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“Spend the glittering moonlight there Pursuing down the soundless deep Limbs that gleam and shadowy hair, Or floating lazy, half-asleep. Dive and double and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-brooke/spend-the-glittering-moonlight-there-pursuing-down-the-soundless-deep/) [Rupert Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-brooke/) > [Keats writes better about poems than anybody I've ever read. The things that he says about what he wants his own poems to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-motion/keats-writes-better-about-poems-than-anybody-i-ve-ever-read-the/) [Andrew Motion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-motion/) > [Ooh, watch it now, Keats, l she's playin' you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-wayans/ooh-watch-it-now-keats-l-she-s-playin-you/) [Damon Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-wayans/) > [Only those of our poets who kept solidly to the Shakespearean tradition achieved any measure of success. But Keats was the last great exponent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lowell/only-those-of-our-poets-who-kept-solidly-to-the-shakespearean/) [Amy Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lowell/) > [“I am profoundly enchanted by the flowing complexity in you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/i-am-profoundly-enchanted-by-the-flowing-complexity-in-you/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [Once I worshipped Keats for dying young. Now I think it's braver to die old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/once-i-worshipped-keats-for-dying-young-now-i-think-it-s-braver-to/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [Shelley and Keats were the last English poets who were at all up to date in their chemical knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-b-s-haldane/shelley-and-keats-were-the-last-english-poets-who-were-at-all-up-to/) [John B. S. Haldane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-b-s-haldane/) > [Keats longed for fame, but longed above all to deserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/keats-longed-for-fame-but-longed-above-all-to-deserve-it/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [“A fact is not a truth until you love it. —John Keats”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-james-brown/a-fact-is-not-a-truth-until-you-love-it-john-keats/) [Daniel James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-james-brown/) > [“Peace, peace! he is not dead, he doth not sleep, He hath awaken’d from the dream of life; ’Tis we, who lost in stormy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/peace-peace-he-is-not-dead-he-doth-not-sleep-he-hath-awaken-d-from/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## More by F. Scott Fitzgerald > [“His dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/his-dream-must-have-seemed-so-close-that-he-could-hardly-fail-to/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“There was a ripe mystery about it, a hint of bedrooms upstairs more beautiful and cool than other bedrooms, of gay and radiant activities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/there-was-a-ripe-mystery-about-it-a-hint-of-bedrooms-upstairs-more/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [I want you to take a red-hot bath as hot as you can bear it, and just relax your nerves. You can read in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/i-want-you-to-take-a-red-hot-bath-as-hot-as-you-can-bear-it-and-just/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [Tireless passion, fierce jealousy, longing to possess and crush-these alone were left of all his love for Rosalind; these remained to him as payment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/tireless-passion-fierce-jealousy-longing-to-possess-and-crush-these/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [I found something! Courage--just that; courage as a rule of life and something to cling to always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/i-found-something-courage-just-that-courage-as-a-rule-of-life-and/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“Life is a series of successful gestures...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/life-is-a-series-of-successful-gestures/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“Another dawn flung itself across the river; a belated taxi hurried along the street, its lamps still shining like burning eyes in a face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/another-dawn-flung-itself-across-the-river-a-belated-taxi-hurried/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“She plucked a twig and broke it, but she found no spring in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/she-plucked-a-twig-and-broke-it-but-she-found-no-spring-in-it/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“I'm one of those people who go through the world giving other people thrills but getting few myself except those I read into men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/i-m-one-of-those-people-who-go-through-the-world-giving-other-people/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [The Montana sunset lay between the mountains like a giant bruise from which darkened arteries spread across a poisoned sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/the-montana-sunset-lay-between-the-mountains-like-a-giant-bruise-from/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“You loved me too?" he repeated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/you-loved-me-too-he-repeated/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“He was good looking, "sort of distinguished when he wants to be", had a line, and was properly inconstant. In fact, he summed up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/he-was-good-looking-sort-of-distinguished-when-he-wants-to-be-had-a/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [What are you going to do? "Can't say - run for president, write -" "Greenwich Village?" "Good heavens, no - I said write -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/what-are-you-going-to-do-can-t-say-run-for-president-write-greenwich/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“The latter was considered a good fellow and a fine leader, until a year later, when he disappeared with a mess fund of eleven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/the-latter-was-considered-a-good-fellow-and-a-fine-leader-until-a/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . . And then one fine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/it-eluded-us-then-but-that-s-no-matter-tomorrow-we-will-run-faster/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) [Explore all 1,568 F. Scott Fitzgerald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) ## More Keats quotes > [“Peace, peace! he is not dead, he doth not sleep, He hath awaken’d from the dream of life; ’Tis we, who lost in stormy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/peace-peace-he-is-not-dead-he-doth-not-sleep-he-hath-awaken-d-from/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“A fact is not a truth until you love it. —John Keats”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-james-brown/a-fact-is-not-a-truth-until-you-love-it-john-keats/) [Daniel James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-james-brown/) > [Keats longed for fame, but longed above all to deserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/keats-longed-for-fame-but-longed-above-all-to-deserve-it/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [Shelley and Keats were the last English poets who were at all up to date in their chemical knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-b-s-haldane/shelley-and-keats-were-the-last-english-poets-who-were-at-all-up-to/) [John B. S. Haldane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-b-s-haldane/) > [Once I worshipped Keats for dying young. Now I think it's braver to die old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/once-i-worshipped-keats-for-dying-young-now-i-think-it-s-braver-to/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [“I am profoundly enchanted by the flowing complexity in you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/i-am-profoundly-enchanted-by-the-flowing-complexity-in-you/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [Only those of our poets who kept solidly to the Shakespearean tradition achieved any measure of success. But Keats was the last great exponent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lowell/only-those-of-our-poets-who-kept-solidly-to-the-shakespearean/) [Amy Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lowell/) > [Ooh, watch it now, Keats, l she's playin' you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-wayans/ooh-watch-it-now-keats-l-she-s-playin-you/) [Damon Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-wayans/) > [Keats writes better about poems than anybody I've ever read. The things that he says about what he wants his own poems to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-motion/keats-writes-better-about-poems-than-anybody-i-ve-ever-read-the/) [Andrew Motion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-motion/) > [John Keats / John Keats / John / Please put your scarf on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/john-keats-john-keats-john-please-put-your-scarf-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Reading does not occupy me enough: the only relief I find springs from the composition of poetry, which necessitates contemplations that lift me above…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/reading-does-not-occupy-me-enough-the-only-relief-i-find-springs-from/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [“I felt miserable. When Keats felt miserable he always put on a clean shirt. But he was a poet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/i-felt-miserable-when-keats-felt-miserable-he-always-put-on-a-clean/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [I do think better of womankind than to suppose they care whether Mister John Keats five feet high likes them or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/i-do-think-better-of-womankind-than-to-suppose-they-care-whether/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [When I read Andrew Motion's biography, I wept. It's something about the purity of the story and how fresh it was because of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-campion/when-i-read-andrew-motion-s-biography-i-wept-it-s-something-about-the/) [Jane Campion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-campion/) > [“I look upon fine phrases as a lover. - John Keats”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beatrice-k-otto/i-look-upon-fine-phrases-as-a-lover-john-keats/) [Beatrice K. Otto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beatrice-k-otto/) [Browse all 47 Keats quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keats/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In a good-natured way he had almost decided that Princeton was one part deadly Philistines and one part deadly grinds, and to find a person who could mention Keats without stammering, yet evidently washed his hands, was rather a treat.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "F. 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