I was thinking the same thing (your entire comment) today, even before running across this thread. My bloomberg terminal has daily quote when you log in. Today

I was thinking the same thing (your entire comment) today, even before running across this thread. My bloomberg terminal has daily quote when you log in. Today it says "I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure, which is: Try to please everybody" - Hebert Bayard Swope. I didn't know Swope so I googled. Wikipedia says Swope could be partial inspiration for Gatsby (at least the house and parties). I read the book in early junior high school and I remembered it to be a book about nothing. Just a guy who missed a girl and that's it. In addition to not relating to the social and personal experience aspect, I really didn't notice the writing style which people gush about. Will need to re-read for sure.