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Hawk Quote by Paula McLain

“That's obviously, isn't it?' she said. 'A hawk is always a hawk, except'- and here she raised on heavy eyebrow and gave a mysterious smile - 'except when the hawk is a cabbage.' 'What?' Ernest said, grinning and game and clearly perplexed. 'Exactly,' Gertrude said.” quote by Paula McLain
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““That's obviously, isn't it?' she said. 'A hawk is always a hawk, except'- and here she raised on heavy eyebrow and gave a mysterious smile - 'except when the hawk is a cabbage.' 'What?' Ernest said, grinning and game and clearly perplexed. 'Exactly,' Gertrude said.””

Paula McLain

About This Quote

Source Short story: The Cabbage Hawk by Paula McLain, 2021

A playful, paradoxical statement highlights how expectations can be subverted, urging openness to unexpected possibilities.

In simple terms: Expectations can be flipped; stay open to surprises.

Key Takeaway

Embrace flexibility and question assumptions.

Themes

humor paradox creativity flexibility

Mood

lighthearted thoughtful

Type

narrative dialogue

When to use this quote

  • team brainstorming
  • teaching
  • conflict resolution
  • creative problem solving

Key Concepts

linguistics cognitive bias imagination

Questions to Reflect On

  • When have you encountered a surprising twist?
  • How do you handle contradictory statements?
A Different Perspective

Humor may mask deeper confusion or disagreement.

4.6 out of 5 (9 ratings)

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