“ Often a man can play the helpless child in front of a woman, but he can almost never bring it off when he feels most like a helpless child. ”
 F. Scott Fitzgerald, Tender Is the Night (1934). copy citation

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Author F. Scott Fitzgerald
Source Tender Is the Night
Topic women feeling
Date 1934
Language English
Reference
Note
Weblink http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks03/0301261h.html

Context

“I can't see why you've given up about everything." Abe considered, trying hard not to cough or blow his nose. "I suppose I got bored; and then it was such a long way to go back in order to get anywhere." Often a man can play the helpless child in front of a woman, but he can almost never bring it off when he feels most like a helpless child. "No excuse for it," Nicole said crisply. Abe was feeling worse every minute--he could think of nothing but disagreeable and sheerly nervous remarks. Nicole thought that the correct attitude for her was to sit staring straight ahead, hands in her lap.” source