--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My mistake was that of numberless men…" description: "\"“My mistake was that of numberless men nowadays. Because I was conscious of brains, I thought that the only place for me was London.”\" — George Gissing" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd2/george-gissing-7774_failure_my-mistake-was-that-of-numberless-men-no_1649263.jpg" --- # My mistake was that of numberless men nowadays. Because I… ![“My mistake was that of numberless men nowadays. Because I was conscious of brains, I thought that the only place for me was London.” quote by George Gissing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd2/george-gissing-7774_failure_my-mistake-was-that-of-numberless-men-no_1649263.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd2/george-gissing-7774_failure_my-mistake-was-that-of-numberless-men-no_1649263.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd2/george-gissing-7774_failure_my-mistake-was-that-of-numberless-men-no_1649263.jpg) > ““My mistake was that of numberless men nowadays. Because I was conscious of brains, I thought that the only place for me was London.”” [George Gissing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gissing/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects on feeling out of place among many, believing his intellect suited him for London, indicating a sense of alienation and self‑selection. **In simple terms:** He felt his mind fit London better than others. Key Takeaway Seek environments that match your intellectual needs. Themes identity alienation place Mood melancholic introspective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - career moves - literary analysis - personal essays Key Concepts urban suitability self‑perception Questions to Reflect On - How does environment shape self‑identity? - What drives the desire to belong elsewhere? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brains Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brains-thought-635108/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/london/) [Mistake Numberless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake-numberless-635106/) [Numberless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numberless-635107/) [Numberless Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numberless-men-635105/) ## Related quotes > [When you was born and God was handing out brains you thought he said trains. -Si](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duck-dynasty/when-you-was-born-and-god-was-handing-out-brains-you-thought-he-said/) [Duck Dynasty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duck-dynasty/) > [I seem to have loved you in numberless forms, numberless times, in life after life, in age after age, forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-seem-to-have-loved-you-in-numberless-forms-numberless-times-in-life-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I seem to have loved you in numberless forms, numberless times, in life after life, in age after age forever. 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