--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the New Yorker turned down work…" description: "\"When the New Yorker turned down work, they turned it down in such an elaborately gentlemanly way making apologies for their own shortsightedness. Undou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb7/garrison-keillor-1037_apologies_when-the-new-yorker-turned-down-work-the_3217602.jpg" --- # When the New Yorker turned down work, they turned it down… ![“When the New Yorker turned down work, they turned it down in such an elaborately gentlemanly way making apologies for their own shortsightedness. Undoubtedly it was their fault but somehow for some reason this fell short of the remarkably high standard that you by your own work have set for…” quote by Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb7/garrison-keillor-1037_apologies_when-the-new-yorker-turned-down-work-the_3217602.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb7/garrison-keillor-1037_apologies_when-the-new-yorker-turned-down-work-the_3217602.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb7/garrison-keillor-1037_apologies_when-the-new-yorker-turned-down-work-the_3217602.jpg) > “When the New Yorker turned down work, they turned it down in such an elaborately gentlemanly way making apologies for their own shortsightedness. Undoubtedly it was their fault but somehow for some reason this fell short of the remarkably high standard that you by your own work have set for yourself. They had a way of rejecting my work that made me feel sorry for them somehow.” [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A polite, elaborate rejection can mask underlying shortcomings, leaving the creator feeling sympathy for the rejecter. **In simple terms:** Polite refusals can hide real flaws, causing misplaced pity. Key Takeaway Recognize polite language may conceal criticism. Themes communication rejection ego professionalism Mood empathetic critical Type professional reflective When to use this quote - job applications - publishing submissions - artistic proposals - performance reviews Key Concepts social dynamics self‑esteem feedback loops Questions to Reflect On - Why do we feel sorry for those who reject us? - How can we request clearer reasons? A Different Perspective Politeness can prevent honest feedback and growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apologies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apologies/) [Apologies Shortsightedness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apologies-shortsightedness-6035837/) [Apology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apology/) [Faults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faults/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Gentlemanly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentlemanly/) [High standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-standards/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Making Apologies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-apologies-724621/) [New yorkers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-yorkers/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Rejecting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rejecting/) [Rejecting Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rejecting-work-6035836/) [Sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorry/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/) [Turned down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turned-down/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [“There is one thing that ought to be taught in all the colleges, Which is that people ought to be taught not to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/there-is-one-thing-that-ought-to-be-taught-in-all-the-colleges-which/) [Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) > [Apology is often the first step in correcting a wrong. Having moved for a position of saying 'I don't need forgiveness,' Mr. Trump is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alveda-king/apology-is-often-the-first-step-in-correcting-a-wrong-having-moved/) [Alveda King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alveda-king/) > [What is for sale, what is not? If we really think that making your apologies to your wife or reading a bedside story to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/what-is-for-sale-what-is-not-if-we-really-think-that-making-your/) [Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/) > [“I’m not gentlemanly. When I’m gentle, I’m not manly, and when I’m manly, I’m not gentle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-m-not-gentlemanly-when-i-m-gentle-i-m-not-manly-and-when-i-m-manly/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [History ... with its long, leisurely, gentlemanly labors, the books arriving by post, the cards to be kept and filed, the sections to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hardwick/history-with-its-long-leisurely-gentlemanly-labors-the-books-arriving/) [Elizabeth Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hardwick/) > [“Arthur finally winds up just linking his arm through mine, real tight, and we walk really slow. There are other people around, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-johnson/arthur-finally-winds-up-just-linking-his-arm-through-mine-real-tight/) [Hannah Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-johnson/) > [The dominant and most deep-dyed trait of the journalist is his timorousness. Where the novelist fearlessly plunges into the water of self-exposure, the journalist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-malcolm/the-dominant-and-most-deep-dyed-trait-of-the-journalist-is-his/) [Janet Malcolm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-malcolm/) > [The Devil, can sometimes do a very gentlemanly thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/the-devil-can-sometimes-do-a-very-gentlemanly-thing/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) > [Could anyone in his right mind speak seriously of any limited nuclear war? It should be quite clear that the aggressor's actions will instantly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitriy-ustinov/could-anyone-in-his-right-mind-speak-seriously-of-any-limited-nuclear/) [Dmitriy Ustinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitriy-ustinov/) > [“what secular avocation on earth was there for a young man (whose friends could not get him an ‘appointment’) which was at once gentlemanly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/what-secular-avocation-on-earth-was-there-for-a-young-man-whose/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [It's hard to predict what will happen with two brands in a market. Sometimes they will behave in a gentlemanly way, and sometimes they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/it-s-hard-to-predict-what-will-happen-with-two-brands-in-a-market/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [It's the fault of the chess players themselves. I don't know what they used to be, but now they're not the most gentlemanly group.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-fischer/it-s-the-fault-of-the-chess-players-themselves-i-don-t-know-what-they/) [Bobby Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-fischer/) > [And once, or twice, to throw the dice is a gentlemanly game, But he does not win who plays with Sin in the secret…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/and-once-or-twice-to-throw-the-dice-is-a-gentlemanly-game-but-he-does/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Hatton don't look much like a guy who thinks about commas. But he is a gentleman. His family are gentlemanly. Real classy people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulie-malignaggi/hatton-don-t-look-much-like-a-guy-who-thinks-about-commas-but-he-is-a/) [Paulie Malignaggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulie-malignaggi/) > [A true gentleman never leaves his lady.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alessandro-del-piero/a-true-gentleman-never-leaves-his-lady/) [Alessandro Del Piero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alessandro-del-piero/) ## More by Garrison Keillor > [God writes a lot of comedy... the trouble is, he's stuck with so many bad actors who don't know how to play funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/god-writes-a-lot-of-comedy-the-trouble-is-he-s-stuck-with-so-many-bad/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [The socially redeeming aspect of golf lies in the vast number of lawyers and bankers and managers who play it, and when you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/the-socially-redeeming-aspect-of-golf-lies-in-the-vast-number-of/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [God plays a lot of jokes on us to get our attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/god-plays-a-lot-of-jokes-on-us-to-get-our-attention/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [Ha! Easy for nuns to talk about giving up things. That's what they do for a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/ha-easy-for-nuns-to-talk-about-giving-up-things-that-s-what-they-do/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [This is the big reason most humorists fail. Drunks don't read books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/this-is-the-big-reason-most-humorists-fail-drunks-don-t-read-books/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [Before the world was made, when it was only darkness and mist and waters, God was well aware of Lake Wobegon, my family, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/before-the-world-was-made-when-it-was-only-darkness-and-mist-and/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [On investments, 1998: Where I'm from we don't trust paper. Wealth is what's here on the premises. If I open a cupboard and see,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/on-investments-1998-where-i-m-from-we-don-t-trust-paper-wealth-is/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [“The rich can afford to be progressive. Poor people have reason to be afraid of the future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/the-rich-can-afford-to-be-progressive-poor-people-have-reason-to-be/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [English is the perfect language for preachers because it allows you to talk until you think of what to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/english-is-the-perfect-language-for-preachers-because-it-allows-you/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [“If you can't read a simple goddam sign and follow one simple goddam instruction then get your fat butt the hell out of here.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/if-you-can-t-read-a-simple-goddam-sign-and-follow-one-simple-goddam/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [“The Gospel is meant to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/the-gospel-is-meant-to-comfort-the-afflicted-and-afflict-the/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [I don't want them to be told to remember me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/i-don-t-want-them-to-be-told-to-remember-me/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [Childhood is the small town everyone came from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/childhood-is-the-small-town-everyone-came-from/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [I have taken so many wrong turns and been so careless with precious things and managed to lose, or break, or leave out in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/i-have-taken-so-many-wrong-turns-and-been-so-careless-with-precious/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [Where I'm from we don't trust paper. Wealth is what's here on the premises. If I open a cupboard and see, say, thirty cans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/where-i-m-from-we-don-t-trust-paper-wealth-is-what-s-here-on-the/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) [Explore all 304 Garrison Keillor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) ## More Apologies quotes > [Apologies are not pass/fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/apologies-are-not-pass-fail/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“A lady need never apologize. ~ Joseph de Bonaparte (Brother of Napoleon)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-pataki/a-lady-need-never-apologize-joseph-de-bonaparte-brother-of-napoleon/) [Allison Pataki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-pataki/) > [“Make no apologies for surviving.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hailey-edwards/make-no-apologies-for-surviving/) [Hailey Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hailey-edwards/) > [“If other people owe you an apology, and your words of apology to them are proper and heartfelt, you still may not hear from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/if-other-people-owe-you-an-apology-and-your-words-of-apology-to-them/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“No. I made that choice. I let all that anger and pain get twisted up in my thoughts for you.” He leaned in. “It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/no-i-made-that-choice-i-let-all-that-anger-and-pain-get-twisted-up-in/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [Sorry is like a band-aid. Just because you use it, doesn't mean it's going to heal the wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sorry-is-like-a-band-aid-just-because-you-use-it-doesn-t-mean-it-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you realize youve made a mistake, make amends immediately. Its easier to eat crow while its still warm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-realize-youve-made-a-mistake-make-amends-immediately-its/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“My apologies. I meant no offense." Except that his tone told her he didn't mean a word he'd just spoken.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-oram/my-apologies-i-meant-no-offense-except-that-his-tone-told-her-he-didn/) [Jean Oram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-oram/) > [“Time made apologies and absolution unnecessary. Time didn't really heal, it just made bad memories distant so that the brain couldn't recapture the lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amulya-malladi/time-made-apologies-and-absolution-unnecessary-time-didn-t-really/) [Amulya Malladi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amulya-malladi/) > [But my apology was a thousand apologies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/but-my-apology-was-a-thousand-apologies/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [“You gotta go and get angry at all of my honesty You know I try but I don't do too well with apologies I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-bieber/you-gotta-go-and-get-angry-at-all-of-my-honesty-you-know-i-try-but-i/) [Justin Bieber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-bieber/) > [I'm disappointed in myself. I promised myself I'd stay strong, but I couldn't. Tonight marks the first time I cut. Tonight is the start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie/i-m-disappointed-in-myself-i-promised-myself-i-d-stay-strong-but-i/) [Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie/) > [Your apologies don't mean much to me any more. You apologise but you never change. It's a waste of time believing that you ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/your-apologies-don-t-mean-much-to-me-any-more-you-apologise-but-you/) [Unkown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unkown/) > [What goes around comes around,when and how nobody knows and with double intensity-be it good or bad! so do good to others.Apologize for your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reema-chandnani/what-goes-around-comes-around-when-and-how-nobody-knows-and-with/) [Reema Chandnani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reema-chandnani/) > [When I think that my actions hurt your feelings I feel terrible and I want you to know how sorry I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/superman/when-i-think-that-my-actions-hurt-your-feelings-i-feel-terrible-and-i/) [Superman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/superman/) [Browse all 319 Apologies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apologies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When the New Yorker turned down work, they turned it down in such an elaborately gentlemanly way making apologies for their own shortsightedness. 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