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Take a trip back in time to the Roaring 20’s.

Does your real life feel like fictional drama right now? If so, these Great Gatsby quotes will help you get through the day. Sometimes you have to take a step back and gain a bit of perspective on a few things. We hope these quotes will help you smile, laugh, and even ponder a little.

A Bit About Great Gatsby Quotes

This list of Great Gatsby quotes is a bit different from you might be used to when it comes to the novel. In this article, our goal is to pull out the positive messages in each quote. And not only that, but we want to help you apply the valuable lessons told in this story to your own life. You might have read the book or seen the movie and pondered about what these quotes meant to the characters in the role. But, there are some powerful takeaways from the Great Gatsby that can probably help you with your current situation; so, just keep reading.

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What can we glean from Great Gatsby quotes?

Great Gatsby quotes will help you take a long, hard look at yourself. It’s as if every quote speaks directly to you and there’s no sugar coating. Sometimes you might only look at life from a surface level, but there’s so much more to it. These quotes will help you take a step back and look at life from a different angle.

Why are Great Gatsby quotes important?

You might have read the Great Gatsby several times and misunderstood most of these quotes. The wording is formal , therefore it’s easy to miss the real meaning behind text. However these quotes are so important because they’re more than just entertainment. It’s as if F. Scott Fitzgerald purposely put these words into the novel so they they would resonate with people. Its possible that the lines in the book were personal lessons that the author learned himself, and it’s evident that they were powerful. The beauty of it is that you can gain wisdom from someone else’s life; even if it’s from a book.

An Interesting List of Great Gatsby Quotes

If you’ve ever wanted an alternate understanding of the Great Gatsby, this list is for you. There is an encouraging message behind each of these quotes that’s guaranteed to change your perspective.

1. I like large parties. they’re so intimate; at small parties there isn’t any privacy. 

​This one might seem a bit confusing, but it’s so true. Have you ever been to a large party and there are so many people there, you have to talk to everyone two or three at a time? You go off to a little corner and have really intimate conversations while the rest of the party goes on. On the contrary, a small party requires everyone to talk together, at the same time; which can feel a bit invasive. It can be like that with life as well. If you have a close-knit family or live in a small town, you might feel exposed and as if you can never have time for yourself. If you currently feel like this, it might be time to broaden your horizons and meet some new people; you might even have to move to a big city. Either way, there’s nothing wrong with expanding your network and making new friends.

2. Life is much more successfully looked at from a single window. 

These Great Gatsby quotes are somewhat complex but they have a lot of meaning. One way to interpret this phrase is to imagine yourself looking through several windows. You’re looking from one side to the other, and there’s a lot to view. However, when looking out of a single window, you can only see what’s in front of you, with no other distractions; and that’s how life should be viewed. When you can stay laser-focused on what’s ahead of you and concentrating on one goal, you have a higher chance of being successful. Why? Because your attention isn’t pulled from one place to the next. You have your eyes focused on one prize, and it’s your primary goal.

3. Let us learn to show our friendship for a man when he is alive and not after he is dead.

​Unfortunately, this quote holds a lot of truth. Oftentimes we take people for granted and don’t appreciate them until they’re gone. Life is short, and you never know when it’s a person’s time to go; which is why it’s important to show your appreciation when you can. Tell your family and friends you love them, make amends, and spend quality time now; don’t want to wait until it’s too late.

4. Can’t repeat the past? … why of course you can! 

These Great Gatsby quotes are making a lot of sense. If you don’t learn from your past, you will surely repeat it. Sometimes you will continue to suffer through the same things until you learn your lesson. You might think that since you’ve dealt with something once, it can never happen again, and that’s simply not true. Most circumstances only change when you make an effort to improve them. So, if you allow things to continue on the way they’ve always been without having a different approach the next time around, history will repeat itself.

5. I wasn’t actually in love, but I felt a sort of tender curiosity. 

There’s a good chance you’ve experienced this before. Have you ever been head over heels for someone and then later realized they weren’t all that great? You think back on the relationship and wonder what you ever saw in that person? Well, as this quote puts it, you just had a tender curiosity. Sometimes a person will come into your life while you’re young, vulnerable, or lonely. And if that’s the case, you might find yourself intrigued with someone you otherwise wouldn’t entertain. Unfortunately, this types of situations can lead you to believe you’re in love when you’re actually not.

6. Reserving judgments is a matter of infinite hope 

As you continue to read these Great Gatsby quotes, you’ll see that they’re all about making you think twice. This phrase is a fancy way of saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” And more importantly, say things that you might regret. Not only that, you never know what might become of someone. For instance, the nerdy, skinny student might grow up to be a handsome businessman; so you might not want to judge him too quickly. People are always changing and evolving and to critique someone based off their current circumstance is simply unfair.

7. Whenever you feel like criticizing any one … just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had. 

This is another one of those Great Gatsby quotes that hits you where it hurts. It’s easy to talk about someone without taking into consideration the struggles they’ve been through. Let’s say, you’re in a place in life where you’re successful and thriving, but another person is not. Well, you might have had financial support from parents or other opportunities that propelled you forward; someone else might not have had the same privileges. It’s important to think about those kinds of things before you criticize someone.

8. You see I usually find myself among strangers because I drift here and there trying to forget the sad thing that happened to me. 

This quote is relatable to a lot of people and I’m sure you’ve been there too. Life is complicated, so you find yourself running away from your problems. You might go out to a happy hour or take a spontaneous trip abroad in hopes of forgetting your troubles. Well, when that happens, you’re sure to find yourself in the company of unfamiliar faces; but that shouldn’t be a bad thing. You should learn to turn your sorrow into a way of meeting new people and exploring new things.

9. People disappeared, reappeared, made plans to go somewhere, and then lost each other, searched for each other, found each other a few feet away. 

This type of situation happens all the time with friends and even lovers, and it’s a natural part of life. People drift apart, they go their separate ways, but somehow they make their way back to one another. When you have a good bond with someone, it’s natural to organically come back together somehow. When you truly connect with someone, time nor distance can fade the love you have for them.

10. And as I walked on I was lonely no longer. I was a guide, a pathfinder, an original settler. 

Last of the list of Great Gatsby quotes is another powerful phrase that holds so much meaning. Sometimes in life, you have to take your own journey, and it might not be the easiest one. You could find yourself alone and creating a path that’s never been walking before. But, what you’ll notice is that that lonely road turns you into a leader. You become someone who can lead others down the path that you once walked all by yourself.

Do you feel better after reading these Great Gatsby quotes?

How did you enjoy reading these Great Gatsby quotes? We hope that they gave you a different outlook on the message behind the script. Sometimes inspiring words are hidden in an exciting novel or a captivating movie, and it might go unnoticed. But, if you were inspired by our interpretation of the Great Gatsby, share this post with your social media friends. And don’t forget to leave us a comment below!

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