Young men of this class never do anything for themselves that they can get other people to do for them, and it is the infatuation, the devotion, the superstition of others that keeps them going. These others in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred are women.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Certain young men rely on the devotion of others, especially women, to sustain their lives without effort.
- In plain terms
- Some men do nothing for themselves because women support them out of love or obsession.
- What can you take from it?
- Dependency often stems from others' devotion.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Who enables unearned success?
- How does gender shape dependency?
Another view
It generalizes about men and women unfairly.
More from Henry James
You wanted to look at life for yourself - but you were not allowed; you were punished for your wish. You were ground in the very mill of the conventional!
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