--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Wouldn’t do what?” George asked sullenly…" description: "\"“Wouldn’t do what?” George asked sullenly. “What you were thinking of doing.” “How do you know what I was thinking?” “Oh, we make it our business to kn..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bb/philip-van-doren-stern-46357_business_wouldn-t-do-what-george-asked-sullenly-w_3058830.jpg" --- # Wouldn’t do what?” George asked sullenly. “What you were… ![“Wouldn’t do what?” George asked sullenly. “What you were thinking of doing.” “How do you know what I was thinking?” “Oh, we make it our business to know a lot of things,” the stranger said easily. George wondered what the man’s business was. He was a most unremarkable little person, the sort you…” quote by Philip Van Doren Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bb/philip-van-doren-stern-46357_business_wouldn-t-do-what-george-asked-sullenly-w_3058830.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bb/philip-van-doren-stern-46357_business_wouldn-t-do-what-george-asked-sullenly-w_3058830.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bb/philip-van-doren-stern-46357_business_wouldn-t-do-what-george-asked-sullenly-w_3058830.jpg) > ““Wouldn’t do what?” George asked sullenly. “What you were thinking of doing.” “How do you know what I was thinking?” “Oh, we make it our business to know a lot of things,” the stranger said easily. George wondered what the man’s business was. He was a most unremarkable little person, the sort you would pass in a crowd and never notice. Unless you saw his bright blue eyes, that is. You couldn’t forget them, for they were the kindest, sharpest eyes you ever saw. Nothing else about him was noteworthy.”” [Philip Van Doren Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-van-doren-stern/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A stranger’s striking eyes reveal unexpected kindness, making him memorable despite his ordinariness. **In simple terms:** Eyes can make a person unforgettable. Key Takeaway Notice subtle details that reveal character. Themes perception kindness memory Mood reflective poetic Type narrative literary When to use this quote - social interaction - storytelling - personal encounters Key Concepts psychology human behavior Questions to Reflect On - How do small details shape judgments? - When do we overlook depth? A Different Perspective First impressions can be misleading. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Stranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stranger/) ## Related quotes > [“A nod at Beatrice who held absolutely still. "She said she would come with me. She insisted on it. She stamped her little foot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mette-ivie-harrison/a-nod-at-beatrice-who-held-absolutely-still-she-said-she-would-come/) [Mette Ivie Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mette-ivie-harrison/) > [“I understand right enough,” the stranger said slowly. “I just wanted to make sure you did. 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He shouted something unintelligible into the wind. “Have you eaten yet?” she”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-mcdermott/where-are-you-headed-george-she-asked-him-he-shouted-something/) [Alice McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-mcdermott/) > [When George asked me to be the prequels, it was the same kind of meeting - it was very short and to the point.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcdiarmid/when-george-asked-me-to-be-the-prequels-it-was-the-same-kind-of/) [Ian McDiarmid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcdiarmid/) > [“Your name?" George asked him directly. He had probably seen the man a dozen times before yet did not know anything about him. 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"I'm someone who reads the same authors you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-a-stranger-i-said-and-pointed-to-his-book-i-m-someone-who/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Never forget," a Stranger said to me once in the lobby of the Midland Hotel in Manchester, "that only dead fish swim with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/never-forget-a-stranger-said-to-me-once-in-the-lobby-of-the-midland/) [Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/) > [I don't feel it's my job anymore to be nice. In the beginning, if a stranger said, 'your movie was great', I thought we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/i-don-t-feel-it-s-my-job-anymore-to-be-nice-in-the-beginning-if-a/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [“Our heroes have arrived, then," the stranger said, his voice a soft, bubbly murmur. "Excuse me?" Poison queries. The odd creature put down his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-wooding/our-heroes-have-arrived-then-the-stranger-said-his-voice-a-soft/) [Chris Wooding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-wooding/) > [“He greeted me in his usual attire - pajama pants. "Hey stranger!" he said, hugging me for a few long seconds. "I've already set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inna-swinton/he-greeted-me-in-his-usual-attire-pajama-pants-hey-stranger-he-said/) Inna Swinton > [She said, I've never kissed a stranger. I said, I've never kissed a angel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-cab/she-said-i-ve-never-kissed-a-stranger-i-said-i-ve-never-kissed-a-angel/) Cris Cab ## More by Philip Van Doren Stern > [“I understand right enough,” the stranger said slowly. “I just wanted to make sure you did. 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