--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of his private vanities was that all…" description: "\"“One of his private vanities was that all the garbage sorting had endowed his hands with killing strength—that he could chop a brick in half like Bruce..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/katherine-boo-7467_belief_one-of-his-private-vanities-was-that-all_3037116.jpg" --- # One of his private vanities was that all the garbage… ![“One of his private vanities was that all the garbage sorting had endowed his hands with killing strength—that he could chop a brick in half like Bruce Lee. “So let’s get a brick,” replied a girl with whom he had once, injudiciously, shared this conviction. Abdul had bumbled away. The brick belief…” quote by Katherine Boo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/katherine-boo-7467_belief_one-of-his-private-vanities-was-that-all_3037116.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/katherine-boo-7467_belief_one-of-his-private-vanities-was-that-all_3037116.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/katherine-boo-7467_belief_one-of-his-private-vanities-was-that-all_3037116.jpg) > ““One of his private vanities was that all the garbage sorting had endowed his hands with killing strength—that he could chop a brick in half like Bruce Lee. “So let’s get a brick,” replied a girl with whom he had once, injudiciously, shared this conviction. Abdul had bumbled away. The brick belief was something he wanted to harbor, not to test.”” [Katherine Boo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-boo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A man’s imagined strength from a belief is challenged, revealing the fragility of self‑constructed power. **In simple terms:** Beliefs can be fragile when tested. Key Takeaway Question the reality of your self‑beliefs. Themes identity belief strength illusion Mood thoughtful critical Type narrative philosophical When to use this quote - personal development - confidence building - risk assessment Key Concepts self‑efficacy psychological projection Questions to Reflect On - What belief fuels your confidence? - When might a belief be harmful? A Different Perspective Belief may be useful even if false. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abdul Bumbled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abdul-bumbled-4988273/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Brick Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brick-belief-4988270/) [Brick Replied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brick-replied-4988271/) [Chop Brick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chop-brick-4988274/) [Conviction Abdul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conviction-abdul-4988272/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Self confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-confidence/) ## Related quotes > [My folks tried to make a preacher of me and missed by a narrow margin… I would have made a good one if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/my-folks-tried-to-make-a-preacher-of-me-and-missed-by-a-narrow-margin/) [Robert A. 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I had quite low…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/i-don-t-think-i-would-ever-have-taken-on-professional-acting-roles-if/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [The best way to help Burma is to empower the people of Burma, to help us have enough self-confidence to obtain what we want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/the-best-way-to-help-burma-is-to-empower-the-people-of-burma-to-help/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) ## More by Katherine Boo > [“In places where government priorities and market imperatives create a world so capricious that to help a neighbor is to risk your ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-boo/in-places-where-government-priorities-and-market-imperatives-create-a/) [Katherine Boo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-boo/) > [“The forces of justice had finally come to Annawadi. 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Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. 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Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. 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