He had made one mistake in an otherwise flawless performance: he hadn't told me his name. Have you ever exchanged three words with an American without being told his name?
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The narrator notes that not learning someone's name is a glaring omission in an otherwise perfect interaction.
- In plain terms
- Forgetting a name ruins an otherwise smooth conversation.
- What can you take from it?
- Names matter in personal connections.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How does a name affect our perception of someone?
- Can a conversation be complete without names?
Another view
In some cultures, anonymity is acceptable or even preferred.
More from Kyril Bonfiglioli
Why do people build houses to keep the climate out, then cut holes in the walls to let it in again? I shall never understand.
Permalink to quote #5 Ten minutes later I was in an enormous taxi-cab, an air-conditioned one, hired for the day for fifty dollars; it seems an awful lot, I know, but money's worth …
Permalink to quote #7 'No no, Jock:we're going to push him out of a window. Your bedroom window, I think. Yes, and we'll undress him first and say that he was making advances to you…
Permalink to quote #4
Related quotes
Although there exist many thousand subjects for elegant conversation, there are persons who cannot meet a cripple without talking about feet.
Ernest BramahErnest Bramah quote #3 When you fall into a man's conversation, the first thing you should consider is, whether he has a greater inclination to hear you, or that you should hear him.
Richard SteeleRichard Steele quote #7 'Kinda be careful, because you might get your tit in a wringer by saying something that isn't quite proper'
Evan MechamEvan Mecham quote #7