Though he made a joke when asked to do the right thing, he always did it. He was so much more in earnest than he appeared. He did not do himself justice.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- He appeared to joke about doing the right thing but actually committed to it seriously. His earnestness was deeper than his outward appearance suggested.
- In plain terms
- He joked about doing the right thing but did it with serious intent.
- What can you take from it?
- Appearances often hide deeper sincerity and commitment.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do we judge a person's true character?
- Is humor a mask for seriousness?
Another view
It may overlook the value of using humor to diffuse tension.
More from Florence Nightingale
To understand God's thoughts we must study statistics, for these are the measure of His purpose.
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