There are no ugly questions except those clothed in condescension.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Questions are only ugly if asked with arrogance or a desire to belittle.
- In plain terms
- Questions are fine unless asked to be condescending.
- What can you take from it?
- Ask questions with respect to avoid being rude.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How does your tone change how a question is received?
- When have you felt belittled by a question?
Another view
Some questions can be intrusive regardless of tone.
More from John Steinbeck
Eventlessness has no posts to drape duration on. From nothing to nothing is no time at all.
Permalink to quote #29 Men do change, and change comes like a little wind that ruffles the curtains at dawn, and it comes like the stealthy perfume of wildflowers hidden in the grass.
Permalink to quote #31 It seems to me that if you or I must choose between two courses of thought or action, we should remember our dying and try so to live that our death brings no …
Permalink to quote #28
Related quotes
What's on your mind, if you will allow the overstatement?
Fred AllenFred Allen quote #3 'I don't want to seem always to be criticizing your methods of voice production, Jeeves,' I said, 'but I must inform you that that 'Well, sir' of yours is in m…
P. G. WodehouseP. G. Wodehouse quote #75 You mean now?
Yogi BerraYogi Berra quote #1