“ I don't want every one to like me; I should think less of myself if some people did. ”
Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady (1881). copy citation
| Author | Henry James |
|---|---|
| Source | The Portrait of a Lady |
| Topic | self integrity liking |
| Date | 1881 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | |
| Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2834/2834-h/2834-h.htm |
Context
“«I'm afraid she has changed a great deal. I told her she would.»
«I'm sorry to hear it; I hoped she would have her own way. Why doesn't my brother like you?» the Countess ingenuously added.
«I don't know and I don't care. He's perfectly welcome not to like me; I don't want every one to like me; I should think less of myself if some people did. A journalist can't hope to do much good unless he gets a good deal hated; that's the way he knows how his work goes on. And it's just the same for a lady. But I didn't expect it of Isabel.»
«Do you mean that she hates you?»” source
«I'm sorry to hear it; I hoped she would have her own way. Why doesn't my brother like you?» the Countess ingenuously added.
«I don't know and I don't care. He's perfectly welcome not to like me; I don't want every one to like me; I should think less of myself if some people did. A journalist can't hope to do much good unless he gets a good deal hated; that's the way he knows how his work goes on. And it's just the same for a lady. But I didn't expect it of Isabel.»
«Do you mean that she hates you?»” source
Meaning and analysis
