If I saw a glass of wine repeatedly presented to a man, and he took no notice of it, I should be apt to think that he was blind or uncivil. A juster philosophy might teach me rather to think that my eyes deceived me, and that the offer was not really what I conceived it to be.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- If someone ignores an apparent offer, it may be due to perceptual error rather than rudeness or inability.
- In plain terms
- Don't assume someone ignores you; maybe you misread the situation.
- What can you take from it?
- Question your assumptions before judging others' actions.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Could I be misinterpreting this signal?
- How often do I jump to conclusions?
Another view
Sometimes people truly are being rude or dismissive.
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