--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Although in general Gary applauded the…" description: "\"“Although in general Gary applauded the modern trend toward individual self-management of retirement funds and long-distance calling plans and private-..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a86/jonathan-franzen-801_parenting_although-in-general-gary-applauded-the-m_2997187.jpg" --- # Although in general Gary applauded the modern trend toward… ![“Although in general Gary applauded the modern trend toward individual self-management of retirement funds and long-distance calling plans and private-schooling options, he was less than thrilled to be given responsibility for his own personal brain chemistry, especially when certain people in his…” quote by Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a86/jonathan-franzen-801_parenting_although-in-general-gary-applauded-the-m_2997187.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a86/jonathan-franzen-801_parenting_although-in-general-gary-applauded-the-m_2997187.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a86/jonathan-franzen-801_parenting_although-in-general-gary-applauded-the-m_2997187.jpg) > ““Although in general Gary applauded the modern trend toward individual self-management of retirement funds and long-distance calling plans and private-schooling options, he was less than thrilled to be given responsibility for his own personal brain chemistry, especially when certain people in his life, notably his father, refused to take any such responsibility. But Gary was nothing if not conscientious. As he entered the darkroom, he estimated that his levels of Neurofactor 3(i.e., serotonin: a very, very important factor) were posting seven-day or even thirty-day highs, that his Factor 2 and Factor 7 levels were likewise outperforming expectations, and that his Factor 1 had rebounded from an early-morning slump related to the glass of Armagnac he’d drunk at bedtime.”” [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Gary reflects on the paradox of modern autonomy versus personal responsibility for mental health, noting his conscientiousness despite anxiety about self‑management. **In simple terms:** Modern freedom clashes with personal mental health responsibility. Key Takeaway Acknowledge limits and seek support. Themes autonomy responsibility mental health conscientiousness Mood reflective concerned Type philosophical personal When to use this quote - career stress - personal health monitoring - seeking therapy - balancing independence Key Concepts self‑management neurochemistry anxiety Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance independence with seeking help? - What supports help manage mental health? A Different Perspective Self‑monitoring can be overwhelming without guidance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain Chemistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain-chemistry-431080/) [Gary Conscientious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gary-conscientious-4740411/) [Levels Neurofactor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/levels-neurofactor-4740408/) [Neurofactor Serotonin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neurofactor-serotonin-4740407/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Responsibility Gary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility-gary-4740412/) ## Related quotes > [“I am sorry (not to you but in a deeper way, sorry for my brain chemistry and who I am.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/i-am-sorry-not-to-you-but-in-a-deeper-way-sorry-for-my-brain/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [“Many people don’t seem to want a detailed explanation of the changes in brain chemistry, of the depletion of neurotransmitters that we find associated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-stefan-cembrowicz/many-people-don-t-seem-to-want-a-detailed-explanation-of-the-changes/) [Dr Stefan Cembrowicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-stefan-cembrowicz/) > [I'm aware of everything - it's my job - I keep up to speed, and I have a blessed memory. The brain chemistry I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-m-aware-of-everything-it-s-my-job-i-keep-up-to-speed-and-i-have-a/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I know it's a very human thing to say 'Is there anything I can do,' but in this case I would only entertain offers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-know-it-s-a-very-human-thing-to-say-is-there-anything-i-can-do-but/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [When you encourage someone, it literally changes their brain chemistry to be able to perform... sends fuel to the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cloud/when-you-encourage-someone-it-literally-changes-their-brain-chemistry/) [Henry Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cloud/) > [“My secret love, Billy Colbert, had to make up the same test. Afterward, we left the chemistry lab together. 'Well, it was long,' Billy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-cohen/my-secret-love-billy-colbert-had-to-make-up-the-same-test-afterward/) [Barbara Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-cohen/) > [Singing and dancing have been shown to modulate brain chemistry, specifically levels of dopamine, the 'feel good' neurotransmitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/singing-and-dancing-have-been-shown-to-modulate-brain-chemistry/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [“I was communicating with my inner Pilar, which was externalized in visible form, connected with the help of a brain chemistry facilitator to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/i-was-communicating-with-my-inner-pilar-which-was-externalized-in/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [To think is to practice brain chemistry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/to-think-is-to-practice-brain-chemistry/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“Memories must somehow be represented physically in the brain. Brain chemistry and structure is altered by experience and the stability of these physicochemical changes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-shea/memories-must-somehow-be-represented-physically-in-the-brain-brain/) [Michael O'Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-o-shea/) > [While girls average a healthy five hours a week on video games, boys average 13. The problem? The brain chemistry of video games stimulates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/while-girls-average-a-healthy-five-hours-a-week-on-video-games-boys/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [There's a brain chemistry - the floatiness and the disassociation and all the things that came with starving - I became addicted to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marti-noxon/there-s-a-brain-chemistry-the-floatiness-and-the-disassociation-and/) [Marti Noxon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marti-noxon/) > [“To draw for a moment from an entirely different corner of my life, that part of me still attached to the biological sciences, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-ehrenreich/to-draw-for-a-moment-from-an-entirely-different-corner-of-my-life/) [Barbara Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-ehrenreich/) > [“once told me this thing about brain chemistry, the nub of it being that when you’re feeling good, you can’t ever imagine feeling bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/once-told-me-this-thing-about-brain-chemistry-the-nub-of-it-being/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [I think it's brain chemistry. I'm a positive, cheerful person, and I think it is absolutely the luck of the draw. I think the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/i-think-it-s-brain-chemistry-i-m-a-positive-cheerful-person-and-i/) [Ann Patchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-patchett/) ## More by Jonathan Franzen > [“The fundamental fact about all of us is that we’re alive for a while but will die before long. This fact is the real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/the-fundamental-fact-about-all-of-us-is-that-we-re-alive-for-a-while/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [Fiction that isn't an author's personal adventure into the frightening or the unknown isn't worth writing for anything but money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/fiction-that-isn-t-an-author-s-personal-adventure-into-the/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [“Parents are programmed to want the best for their kids, regardless of what they get in return. That's what love is supposed to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/parents-are-programmed-to-want-the-best-for-their-kids-regardless-of/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [“Birds were what became of dinosaurs. Those mountains of flesh whose petrified bones were on display at the Museum of Natural History had done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/birds-were-what-became-of-dinosaurs-those-mountains-of-flesh-whose/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [“Can a better kind of fiction save the world? There’s always some tiny hope (strange things do happen), but the answer is almost certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/can-a-better-kind-of-fiction-save-the-world-there-s-always-some-tiny/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [A big part of me would be very proud never having anything of mine adapted, because if you want the real experience, there's only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/a-big-part-of-me-would-be-very-proud-never-having-anything-of-mine/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [Seriously, the world is changing so quickly that if you had any more than 80 years of change I dont see how you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/seriously-the-world-is-changing-so-quickly-that-if-you-had-any-more/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [“I'm saying the structure and f the entire culture is flawed, chip said. I'm saying the bureaucracy has arrogated the right to define certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/i-m-saying-the-structure-and-f-the-entire-culture-is-flawed-chip-said/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [Integrity's a neutral value. Hyenas have integrity, too. They're pure hyena.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/integrity-s-a-neutral-value-hyenas-have-integrity-too-they-re-pure/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [“An odd thing about beauty, however, is that it's absence tends not to arouse our sympathy as much as other forms of privation do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/an-odd-thing-about-beauty-however-is-that-it-s-absence-tends-not-to/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [He became another data point in the American experiment of self-government, an experiment statistically skewed from the outset, because it wasn't the people with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/he-became-another-data-point-in-the-american-experiment-of-self/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [“It was this motley band of modest peeps and plovers on the beach who reminded me of the human beings I loved best -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/it-was-this-motley-band-of-modest-peeps-and-plovers-on-the-beach-who/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [“Alfred believed that the real and the true were a minority that the world was bent on exterminating.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/alfred-believed-that-the-real-and-the-true-were-a-minority-that-the/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [“Imagine that human existence is defined by an Ache: the Ache of our not being, each of us, the center of the universe; of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/imagine-that-human-existence-is-defined-by-an-ache-the-ache-of-our/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [The problem was money and the indignities of life without it. Every stroller, cell phone, Yankees cap, and SUV he saw was a torment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/the-problem-was-money-and-the-indignities-of-life-without-it-every/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) [Explore all 345 Jonathan Franzen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) ## More Parenting quotes > [My mother says I didn't open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/my-mother-says-i-didn-t-open-my-eyes-for-eight-days-after-i-was-born/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“William didn't look like he'd be difficult about anything - he was thin and sandy-haired and already wore eyeglasses like his father. Most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-c-wrede/william-didn-t-look-like-he-d-be-difficult-about-anything-he-was-thin/) [Patricia C. Wrede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-c-wrede/) > [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/) [Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/) > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/) [Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“As members of the Church, there are things you cannot do. For one, you cannot take a Las Vegas-style vacation. I do not know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-grant-bangerter/as-members-of-the-church-there-are-things-you-cannot-do-for-one-you/) [William Grant Bangerter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-grant-bangerter/) > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [(knitting while on a motorcycle) "For several years she knitted in secret (my father would not approve; she was to concentrate on motorcycling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-zimmermann/knitting-while-on-a-motorcycle-for-several-years-she-knitted-in/) [Elizabeth Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-zimmermann/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [My parents were not musical, and they were not effervescent people; everything was very quiet. The music that I played was loud; it used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/my-parents-were-not-musical-and-they-were-not-effervescent-people/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Yes, the issue was courage. It always had been, even as a kid. Things scared him. He couldn't help it. Noise scared him, dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/yes-the-issue-was-courage-it-always-had-been-even-as-a-kid-things/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [“My father called twice and left a voicemail—who does that?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-erickson/my-father-called-twice-and-left-a-voicemail-who-does-that/) [Megan Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-erickson/) > [My father longed for a better life for us, and when I was nine he got a job as a heart surgeon in Belfast.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-melua/my-father-longed-for-a-better-life-for-us-and-when-i-was-nine-he-got/) [Katie Melua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-melua/) [Browse all 55,672 Parenting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Although in general Gary applauded the modern trend toward individual self-management of retirement funds and long-distance calling plans and private-schooling options, he was less than thrilled to be given responsibility for his own personal brain chemistry, especially when certain people in his life, notably his father, refused to take any such responsibility. But Gary was nothing if not conscientious. As he entered the darkroom, he estimated that his levels of Neurofactor 3(i.e., serotonin: a very, very important factor) were posting seven-day or even thirty-day highs, that his Factor 2 and Factor 7 levels were likewise outperforming expectations, and that his Factor 1 had rebounded from an early-morning slump related to the glass of Armagnac he’d drunk at bedtime.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jonathan Franzen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/although-in-general-gary-applauded-the-modern-trend-toward-individual/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Parenting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/although-in-general-gary-applauded-the-modern-trend-toward-individual/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a86/jonathan-franzen-801_parenting_although-in-general-gary-applauded-the-m_2997187.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a86/jonathan-franzen-801_parenting_although-in-general-gary-applauded-the-m_2997187.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a86/jonathan-franzen-801_parenting_although-in-general-gary-applauded-the-m_2997187.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Although in general Gary applauded the modern trend toward individual self-management of retirement funds…” — Jonathan Franzen", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jonathan Franzen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Although in general Gary applauded the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/although-in-general-gary-applauded-the-modern-trend-toward-individual/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/although-in-general-gary-applauded-the-modern-trend-toward-individual/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```