A shy man's lot is not a happy one. The men dislike him, the women despise him, and he dislikes and despises himself.
 Jerome K. Jerome, Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow (1886). copy citation

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Author Jerome K. Jerome
Source Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow
Topic women despise
Date 1886
Language English
Reference
Note
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/files/849/849-h/849-h.htm

Context

“I am glad it is not. It used to be extremely prominent at one time, and was the cause of much misery to myself and discomfort to every one about me—my lady friends especially complained most bitterly about it. A shy man's lot is not a happy one. The men dislike him, the women despise him, and he dislikes and despises himself. Use brings him no relief, and there is no cure for him except time; though I once came across a delicious recipe for overcoming the misfortune. It appeared among the "answers to correspondents" in a small weekly journal and ran as follows—I have never forgotten it:” source