--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Instead of ignoring her infirmity…" description: "\"“Instead of ignoring her infirmity, pretending it was not there, he made it seem like something special and endearing. For the first time Pauline felt ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/347/toni-morrison-271_first-time_instead-of-ignoring-her-infirmity-preten_3078351.jpg" --- # Instead of ignoring her infirmity, pretending it was not… ![“Instead of ignoring her infirmity, pretending it was not there, he made it seem like something special and endearing. For the first time Pauline felt that her bad foot was an asset” quote by Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/347/toni-morrison-271_first-time_instead-of-ignoring-her-infirmity-preten_3078351.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/347/toni-morrison-271_first-time_instead-of-ignoring-her-infirmity-preten_3078351.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/347/toni-morrison-271_first-time_instead-of-ignoring-her-infirmity-preten_3078351.jpg) > ““Instead of ignoring her infirmity, pretending it was not there, he made it seem like something special and endearing. For the first time Pauline felt that her bad foot was an asset”” [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He reframed her disability as a unique, endearing trait, turning a perceived flaw into a personal strength. **In simple terms:** He made her disability a positive asset. Key Takeaway Embrace and highlight unique traits. Themes acceptance self‑esteem strength identity Mood empathetic hopeful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - workplace inclusion - therapy sessions Key Concepts psychology social perception empowerment Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance acceptance with realistic support? - When does reframing become denial? A Different Perspective May overlook genuine needs while focusing on positivity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad Foot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-foot-5238663/) [Felt Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt-bad/) [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Infirmity Pretending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infirmity-pretending-5238661/) [Pauline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pauline-546568/) [Pauline Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pauline-felt-5238662/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“The sad thing was that Pauline did not really care for clothes and makeup. She merely wanted other women to cast favorable glances her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/the-sad-thing-was-that-pauline-did-not-really-care-for-clothes-and/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“Pauline felt uncomfortable with the few black women she met. 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He knew he'd make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/at-first-he-thought-he-felt-bad-because-he-was-afraid-of-leading-an/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“There's the old saying "I felt bad because I didn't have a pair of shoes until I met a man who didn't have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-the-old-saying-i-felt-bad-because-i-didn-t-have-a-pair-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Toni Morrison > [Perhaps that's what all human relationships boiled down to: Would you save my life? or would you take it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/perhaps-that-s-what-all-human-relationships-boiled-down-to-would-you/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [There, in the center of that silence was not eternity but the death of time and a loneliness so profound the word itself had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/there-in-the-center-of-that-silence-was-not-eternity-but-the-death-of/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [In times of dread, artists must never choose to remain silent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/in-times-of-dread-artists-must-never-choose-to-remain-silent/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“Not know it was hard;knowing it was harder”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/not-know-it-was-hard-knowing-it-was-harder/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“Didn’t everything on God’s earth have or acquire defense?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/didn-t-everything-on-god-s-earth-have-or-acquire-defense/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [If you can't count, they can cheat you. 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