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About this quote

What does it mean?
The author uses a tailor as a metaphor for someone who adapts to reality, unlike others who force reality to fit old ideas.
In plain terms
Only a tailor adapts to changes while others expect you to fit their old ideas.
What can you take from it?
Adaptability is rare compared to rigid thinking.

Where it applies

  • leadership
  • problem-solving
  • evaluating people

Putting it to work

  • update your assumptions
  • be flexible

Questions to consider

  • When should you adapt versus stand firm?
  • Who adapts to reality in your life?

Another view

Not everyone can or should constantly change their approach to fit others.

More from George Bernard Shaw

  1. Irish history is something no Englishman should forget and no Irishman should remember.

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  2. What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the

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  3. If you have an apple and I have an apple, and we exchange apples, we both still only have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea, and we exchang…

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