Loose ends Quote by Philip MacDonald
““Anthony took the pipe out of his mouth and smiled at her. "Sorry, dear! You know I don't mean to get like this, but I can't help it. What you want me to tell you is what I'm thinking, but I can't, because I don't know. Now, now, that's not clever, it's purely a statement of fact. We've been married quite long enough for you to know me by this tim, but you never seem to have understood properly what a tidy mind I've got. That, you know, is really why I'm always getting mixed up in this 'finding-out' business. When I see a thing all unreasonable and all at loose ends, I just have to see whether I can't straighten it out, and it's the same with my own thinking. When my own thinking's just a mess, it isn't tidy, and therefore I won't let it release its untidiness onto the world. I have to get it nicely rearranged and sorted before I can really talk.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The House of the Seven Gables, 1935
He insists on mentally organizing his thoughts before speaking, fearing that a chaotic mind would spill disorder onto others.
In simple terms: He wants to tidy his mind before talking.
Key Takeaway
Organize thoughts before expressing them.
Themes
self‑discipline
communication
mental clarity
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
philosophical
advice
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- public speaking
- writing
- teaching
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
cognitive restructuring
self‑control
speech anxiety
Questions to Reflect On
- How does mental tidying affect genuine connection?
- Can over‑organizing thoughts limit creativity?
A Different Perspective
May hinder spontaneity and emotional authenticity.
