In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since.
“Whenever you feel like criticizing any one,” he told me, “just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.”
- Nick Carroway, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
What a wise man he was. I love this.
Glad you enjoyed, Simone. Hope all’s well. – BGT
And yet, Nick doesn’t hide his “unaffected scorn” for everything which Gatsby represents. Ironically, Gatsby is the gentleman, albeit superficially, Buchanan the bigot — America’s narrow puritanism intoxicated by worldly success.
So true. Thanks, JL. – BGT
One of my favorite opening lines!
Thanks, Elle. – BGT
Some have, some haven’t. Therefore, it should be “not all of the people have”, not “all of the people haven’t”. Grammar police, always on patrol. Wink, nod.
Correcting F. Scott Fitzgerald’s prose….hmmm. – BGT
Very true. Sigh. And evident — glaringly so — on several recent flights with related traipsing through airports.
Best Regards,
Heinz-Ulrich
Thanks, Heinz. Be strong! – BGT