"I am continually fascinated at the difficulty intelligent people have in distinguishing what is controversial from what is merely offensive"

Nora Ephron's quote speaks to the difficulty that intelligent individuals have in understanding the distinction in between something that is controversial and something that is simply offending. It suggests that smart individuals often have a hard time to separate between the two, and that this can be a source of fascination. This might be due to the fact that controversial subjects frequently involve a degree of offense, and it can be difficult to determine where the line is between the two. It might likewise be since smart individuals are more likely to be exposed to a variety of opinions and perspectives, making it more difficult to figure out which ones are questionable and which ones are just offensive. Ultimately, Ephron's quote highlights the intricacy of comparing controversial and offending topics, and the obstacle that intelligent people face in doing so.