"Many a man is praised for his reserve and so-called shyness when he is simply too proud to risk making a fool of himself"

This quote by J. B. Priestley is a commentary on the way society typically misinterprets particular habits. It recommends that many individuals are applauded for their reserve and shyness when in truth they are just too happy to risk humiliating themselves. This indicates that the person is not in fact shy, but rather they are too proud to put themselves in a susceptible position. This quote is a tip that we must not always take individuals at stated value and that we ought to be careful not to make presumptions about somebody's character based on their habits. It also functions as a tip that we need to bear in mind our own pride and not let it prevent us from taking threats and trying new things.