Ameet148 Posted 11 years ago
Vocabulary
Can't understand
This is the sentence that I don't understand:
Most people dislike vanity in others, whatever share they have of it themselves; but I give it fair quarter wherever I meet with it,
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What does "quarter" mean here?
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Here is the complete paragraph:
Hereby, too, I shall indulge the inclination so natural in old men, to be talking of
themselves and their own past actions; and I shall indulge it without being tiresome to
others, who, through respect to age, might conceive themselves obliged to give me a
hearing, since this may be read or not as anyone pleases. And, lastly (I may as well
confess it, since my denial of it will be believed by nobody), perhaps I shall a good deal
gratify my own vanity.[4] Indeed, I scarce ever heard or saw the introductory words,
“Without vanity I may say,” etc., but some vain thing immediately followed. Most people
dislike vanity in others, whatever share they have of it themselves; but I give it fair quarter
wherever I meet with it, being persuaded that it is often productive of good to the
possessor, and to others that are within his sphere of action; and therefore, in many cases,
it would not be altogether absurd if a man were to thank God for his vanity among the
other comforts of life.
Source:Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
Most people dislike vanity in others, whatever share they have of it themselves; but I give it fair quarter wherever I meet with it,
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What does "quarter" mean here?
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is the complete paragraph:
Hereby, too, I shall indulge the inclination so natural in old men, to be talking of
themselves and their own past actions; and I shall indulge it without being tiresome to
others, who, through respect to age, might conceive themselves obliged to give me a
hearing, since this may be read or not as anyone pleases. And, lastly (I may as well
confess it, since my denial of it will be believed by nobody), perhaps I shall a good deal
gratify my own vanity.[4] Indeed, I scarce ever heard or saw the introductory words,
“Without vanity I may say,” etc., but some vain thing immediately followed. Most people
dislike vanity in others, whatever share they have of it themselves; but I give it fair quarter
wherever I meet with it, being persuaded that it is often productive of good to the
possessor, and to others that are within his sphere of action; and therefore, in many cases,
it would not be altogether absurd if a man were to thank God for his vanity among the
other comforts of life.
Source:Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
Top answer
He is speaking figuratively of course. "Fair quarter" means "enough room" in this context. In other words, he wants to say that he is rather tolerant of vanity.
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He is speaking figuratively of course. "Fair quarter" means "enough room" in this context. In other words, he wants to say that he is rather tolerant of vanity.
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Another thing that I don't understand in the above paragraph is this:
being persuaded that it is often productive of good to the
possessor
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Who is "possessor" here?Is the author regarding it to himself or to the readers of his book?
being persuaded that it is often productive of good to the
possessor
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Who is "possessor" here?Is the author regarding it to himself or to the readers of his book?
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"Quarter" is a military term for the treatment of captives. "No quarter" is harsh treatment; "fair quarter" is charitable treatment. The relationship to the meaning of "one-fourth" is tenuous.
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