“The kindly thought was not unmixed with the inevitable longing to get something out of everything you do, which is the chief characteristic of Forsytes, and indeed of the saner elements in every nation.”
“The Forsyte Saga,” by John Galsworthy, Wordsworth Editions Limited, 1994, p. 296.

The cover looks like this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/394478899285?epid=5038503866&hash=item5bd8c65055:g:mnAAAOSwPHFj96Po&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4MEtjRYqm1ftzROWHsc799I%2FRIn1EFBWy3Reej3oBfW%2BBH713QUijWModNYBtoJoO2A92iZJUK29TSvIqyyUHhhf1ZrzzuQg6qoR1VQgb7lL5Dw7GZKhfPzqv%2BxQJjunLAL2UbHkMZrzYYNuUgiPZJ%2B4%2FuOZwrhOd1sznQPEpSMxHOOToB%2FYrTA%2BhsyAxLskgAVED0pMi6AMCp1gi5pFs0FWvwWnV5mehIwcR43VbxGTXoJ7mywEcEHdi3FSXA9A5YzW2mcDt4FBR6p4eluWrezYIP4K4JNk2WhBaCM8FdQQ%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_bNydCWYg

We are re-reading the book(s) and enjoying them immensely.

On Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 10:01:50 AM UTC-4, NancyGene wrote:
> “The kindly thought was not unmixed with the inevitable longing to get something out of everything you do, which is the chief characteristic of Forsytes, and indeed of the saner elements in every nation.”
> “The Forsyte Saga,” by John Galsworthy, Wordsworth Editions Limited, 1994, p. 296.

Great quote. That is exactly how the saner elements in every nation (and every poetry group) interact:
(1) I want something from you;
(2) I offer you something in return;
(3) We trade, and walk away happier.

Unfortunately, the less sane elements don't seem to understand how that works.
> The cover looks like this:
> https://www.ebay.com/itm/394478899285?epid=5038503866&hash=item5bd8c65055:g:mnAAAOSwPHFj96Po&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4MEtjRYqm1ftzROWHsc799I%2FRIn1EFBWy3Reej3oBfW%2BBH713QUijWModNYBtoJoO2A92iZJUK29TSvIqyyUHhhf1ZrzzuQg6qoR1VQgb7lL5Dw7GZKhfPzqv%2BxQJjunLAL2UbHkMZrzYYNuUgiPZJ%2B4%2FuOZwrhOd1sznQPEpSMxHOOToB%2FYrTA%2BhsyAxLskgAVED0pMi6AMCp1gi5pFs0FWvwWnV5mehIwcR43VbxGTXoJ7mywEcEHdi3FSXA9A5YzW2mcDt4FBR6p4eluWrezYIP4K4JNk2WhBaCM8FdQQ%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_bNydCWYg
>
> We are re-reading the book(s) and enjoying them immensely.

On Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 10:15:41 AM UTC-4, George Dance wrote:
> On Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 10:01:50 AM UTC-4, NancyGene wrote:
> > “The kindly thought was not unmixed with the inevitable longing to get something out of everything you do, which is the chief characteristic of Forsytes, and indeed of the saner elements in every nation.”
> > “The Forsyte Saga,” by John Galsworthy, Wordsworth Editions Limited, 1994, p. 296.
> Great quote. That is exactly how the saner elements in every nation (and every poetry group) interact:
> (1) I want something from you;
> (2) I offer you something in return;
> (3) We trade, and walk away happier.
>
> Unfortunately, the less sane elements don't seem to understand how that works.

That isn't what the quote means, George.

On Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 2:26:03 PM UTC, Michael Pendragon wrote:
> On Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 10:15:41 AM UTC-4, George Dance wrote:
> > On Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 10:01:50 AM UTC-4, NancyGene wrote:
> > > “The kindly thought was not unmixed with the inevitable longing to get something out of everything you do, which is the chief characteristic of Forsytes, and indeed of the saner elements in every nation.”
> > > “The Forsyte Saga,” by John Galsworthy, Wordsworth Editions Limited, 1994, p. 296.
> > Great quote. That is exactly how the saner elements in every nation (and every poetry group) interact:
> > (1) I want something from you;
> > (2) I offer you something in return;
> > (3) We trade, and walk away happier.
> >
> > Unfortunately, the less sane elements don't seem to understand how that works.
> That isn't what the quote means, George.
You are correct, Michael. Galsworthy satirizes the upper middle class in his books, in very well-written prose. The Forsytes rarely did anything that didn't have a benefit for them. The "what's in it for me" attitude would sink charity, good will and liberty and justice for all.

George Dance wrote:

> On Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 10:01:50 AM UTC-4, NancyGene wrote:
>
>> “The kindly thought was not unmixed with the inevitable longing to get something out of everything you do, which is the chief characteristic of Forsytes, and indeed of the saner elements in every nation.”
>> “The Forsyte Saga,” by John Galsworthy, Wordsworth Editions Limited, 1994, p. 296.

> Great quote. That is exactly how the saner elements in every nation (and every poetry group) interact:
> (1) I want something from you;
> (2) I offer you something in return;
> (3) We trade, and walk away happier.

> Unfortunately, the less sane elements don't seem to understand how that works.

You nailed it, George.

>> The cover looks like this:
>> https://www.ebay.com/itm/394478899285?epid=5038503866&hash=item5bd8c65055:g:mnAAAOSwPHFj96Po&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4MEtjRYqm1ftzROWHsc799I%2FRIn1EFBWy3Reej3oBfW%2BBH713QUijWModNYBtoJoO2A92iZJUK29TSvIqyyUHhhf1ZrzzuQg6qoR1VQgb7lL5Dw7GZKhfPzqv%2BxQJjunLAL2UbHkMZrzYYNuUgiPZJ%2B4%2FuOZwrhOd1sznQPEpSMxHOOToB%2FYrTA%2BhsyAxLskgAVED0pMi6AMCp1gi5pFs0FWvwWnV5mehIwcR43VbxGTXoJ7mywEcEHdi3FSXA9A5YzW2mcDt4FBR6p4eluWrezYIP4K4JNk2WhBaCM8FdQQ%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_bNydCWYg
>>
>> We are re-reading the book(s) and enjoying them immensely.