I gave a speech in Omaha. After the speech I went to a reception elsewhere in town. A sweet old lady came up to me, put her gloved hand in mine, and said, 'I hear you spoke here tonight.' 'Oh, it was nothing,' I replied modestly. 'Yes,' the little old lady nodded, 'that's what I heard.'
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker modestly dismisses a speech, but a lady later quotes his own modest words back to him, highlighting his humility.
- In plain terms
- The speaker was modest, but his words were noticed and quoted back to him.
- What can you take from it?
- Humility can be recognized and remembered by others.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do you show humility?
- What do others notice about you?
Another view
The anecdote may not reflect the speaker's broader public perception accurately.
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