“Never in my life had I so harshly judged any adult – not my parents, not even Alvin or Uncle Monty – nor had I understood till then how the shameless vanity of utter fools can so strongly determine the fate of others. “Did you meet Mr. von Ribbentrop?” Now almost girlishly bashful, she replied, “I danced with Mr. von Ribbentrop.” “Where?”

“Never in my life had I so harshly judged any adult – not my parents, not even Alvin or Uncle Monty – nor had I understood till then how the shameless vanity of utter fools can so strongly determine the fate of others. “Did you meet Mr. von Ribbentrop?” Now almost girlishly bashful, she replied, “I danced with Mr. von Ribbentrop.” “Where?”

— Philip Roth