--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I do think of my reader, or listener…" description: "\"I do think of my reader, or listener, really, more often, if I give a lecture, for example, and I know that I'm talking to these people; I enjoy sort o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ce/william-h-gass-4166_bits_i-do-think-of-my-reader-or-listener-real_1358977.jpg" --- # I do think of my reader, or listener, really, more often… ![“I do think of my reader, or listener, really, more often, if I give a lecture, for example, and I know that I'm talking to these people; I enjoy sort of preening them a bit. But it's a matter of decorum, basically.” quote by William H. Gass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ce/william-h-gass-4166_bits_i-do-think-of-my-reader-or-listener-real_1358977.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ce/william-h-gass-4166_bits_i-do-think-of-my-reader-or-listener-real_1358977.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ce/william-h-gass-4166_bits_i-do-think-of-my-reader-or-listener-real_1358977.jpg) > “I do think of my reader, or listener, really, more often, if I give a lecture, for example, and I know that I'm talking to these people; I enjoy sort of preening them a bit. But it's a matter of decorum, basically.” [William H. Gass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-gass/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Lecturers may enjoy flattering their audience, but decorum requires restraint and respect. **In simple terms:** Flattery should be balanced with respect. Key Takeaway Maintain humility in presentation. Themes communication humility decorum Mood thoughtful analytical Type advice reflective When to use this quote - public speaking - teaching - performance Key Concepts rhetoric ethics Questions to Reflect On - How do you engage without pandering? - What boundaries define respectful discourse? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on flattery can appear insincere. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bits/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Decorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decorum/) [Enjoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoy/) [Example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/example/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Lectures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lectures/) [Listener Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listener-really-3109825/) [Listeners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listeners/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reader/) [Reader Listener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reader-listener-1782237/) [Really Lecture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-lecture-862263/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Talking People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking-people/) [Think Reader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-reader-1372293/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [My parents never really lecture me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-parents-never-really-lecture-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The best listener is the one who really cares about the other person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-stirtz/the-best-listener-is-the-one-who-really-cares-about-the-other-person/) [Kevin Stirtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-stirtz/) > [A poem, necessarily, sits at a register that's different from our usual conversational voices. 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