---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was a weakness, but he could not bear…"
description: "\"“It was a weakness, but he could not bear to disappoint women, even if it was ultimately for their own good.”\" — Larry McMurtry"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f5/larry-mcmurtry-2540_bear_it-was-a-weakness-but-he-could-not-bear_975968.jpg"
---

#  It was a weakness, but he could not bear to disappoint…

![“It was a weakness, but he could not bear to disappoint women, even if it was ultimately for their own good.” quote by Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f5/larry-mcmurtry-2540_bear_it-was-a-weakness-but-he-could-not-bear_975968.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f5/larry-mcmurtry-2540_bear_it-was-a-weakness-but-he-could-not-bear_975968.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f5/larry-mcmurtry-2540_bear_it-was-a-weakness-but-he-could-not-bear_975968.jpg)

> ““It was a weakness, but he could not bear to disappoint women, even if it was ultimately for their own good.””

[Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/)

## 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 avoids disappointing women, believing it serves their best interests, revealing personal weakness and paternalism.

**In simple terms:** He hides weakness behind concern for women.

Key Takeaway

Balance honesty with empathy.

Themes

gender dynamics weakness paternalism personal integrity

Mood

reflective critical empathetic

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- romantic relationships
- family counseling
- leadership
- personal growth

Key Concepts

masculinity ethical decision‑making relationship dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- When does protecting become controlling?
- How can one respect autonomy while caring?

A Different Perspective

Overprotectiveness can be disempowering.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bear/) [Disappoint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappoint/) [Disappoint Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappoint-women-1904676/) [For good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/for-good-66058/) [Ultimately Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimately-good-1904677/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) [Weakness Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness-bear-1904675/) [Woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woman/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) [Women Ultimately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-ultimately-1904674/)

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