Shyness is the fear of social disapproval or humiliation, while introversion is a preference for environments that are not overstimulating. Shyness is inherently painful; introversion is not.
Susan CainRead
To some extent, we've always had an admiration for extroversion in our culture. But the extrovert ideal really came to play at the turn of the 20th century when we had the rise of big business.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights society's preference for extroverted behavior, particularly with the rise of business in the early 1900s.
Susan Cain's quote reflects on the cultural shift towards extroversion that occurred during the early 20th century, driven by the growth of big business. It suggests that admiration for extroverted traits became prevalent as society began to value assertiveness and sociability in professional and social contexts, overshadowing the contributions of introverts.
Themes
ExtroversionCultureBusinessIntroversionAdmiration
In practice
Example use cases
During a team meeting, one might discuss how extroverted qualities are often praised in corporate environments.
More from Susan Cain
All quotes →We need to do teacher training to educate them about what temperament means. Shyness is painful and you want to help a child with shyness - but the underlying temperament of being a careful, sensitive person is to be honoured, valued and respected.
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But when the group is literally capable of changing our perceptions, and when to stand alone is to activate primitive, powerful, and unconscious feelings of rejection, then the health of these institutions seems far more vulnerable than we think.
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We don't need giant personalities to transform companies. We need leaders who build not their own egos but the institutions they run.
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What if you love knowledge for its own sake, not necessarily as a blueprint to action? What if you wish there were more, not fewer reflective types in the world?
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[Introverts,] the world needs you and it needs the things you carry. So I wish you the best of all possible journeys and the courage to speak softly.
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