The Catcher in the Rye- Too Good

While reading this book, there were many quotes that really caught my attention. Here is one of them:

"If you do something too good, then, after a while, if you don't watch it, you start showing off. And then you're not as good any more." (page 126)

I really liked this because I see it happen all the time. I see it in school, in performances, in movies, and even to myself every now and again. I am sure every one has done it before. People can get egotistical when they find out they're good at something. They do it purely to show off once this happens. They crave the attention, the applause of the audience, friends, family, and strangers. It is a good feeling to be wanted and appreciated for one's abilities, and it isn't a bad thing to want attention; it's natural. But if people do something only for attention, it's a different story. Then, it's for the wrong reasons. They will not practice or put their heart into it. Sometimes, they will start hurting other people who are actually doing it for good reasons, just so they can shine and have a moment of glory. They want that glory. Then, after a while, those few moments of glory won't be enough. They need more and more. Sooner or later, they may become power hungry, maybe loose touch with reality.

Whenever I see someone preform and put their heart and soul into, it is truly amazing. You can feel the emotions. Even if they mess up a few times, it makes it better; this way you know that it is raw, genuine and not fake. You know it's real.
Where as if you can tell someone knows they are good, it becomes annoying. You don't appreciate it as much. They seem full of themselves, and because they already think they are so good, they don't try as hard, and it shows. It truly does.


Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown, 2001. Print.