There's life for you. Spend the best years of your life studying penmanship and rhetoric and syntax and Beowulf and George Eliot, and then somebody steals your pencil.
Dorothy ParkerRead
They say of me, and so they should, It's doubtful if I come to good. I see acquaintances and friends Accumulating dividends And making enviable names In science, art and parlor games. But I, despite expert advice, Keep doing things I think are nice, And though to good I never come Inseparable my nose and thumb.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the idea of pursuing personal satisfaction and creativity over societal validation.
Dorothy Parker's quote expresses a sense of introspection and defiance against the pressures of conforming to societal expectations of success. While others around her may be achieving traditional forms of success in various fields—science, art, and leisure—she remains committed to her own standards of what is enjoyable and fulfilling, even if it leads her to be seen as doubtful or unproductive. Her metaphor of being inseparable from her 'nose and thumb' underscores her self-awareness and acceptance of her choices, suggesting that true fulfillment lies in personal expression rather than external accolades.
Themes
Personal FulfillmentSelf-AcceptanceSuccessCreativitySocietal Expectations
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote in a discussion about the importance of pursuing one's passions over conventional success.
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Dorothy ParkerRead
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