How Not To Be a Boy

by Robert Webb

‘What is a history teacher? He’s someone who teaches mistakes.’

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a woman of thirty with three sons and no income must be in want of a husband.’ I’m pretty sure that’s how Pride and Prejudice begins. Something like that.

So – the thing or two I know about luck. Thing number one: you should do your best to notice luck so that you don’t accidentally take credit for it. Thing number two: luck is not your fault.

In other words, the girl picked up the bill when the boy turned fear and grief into anger.

those whose fathers had fought in a war, or those who were raised by the sons of such fathers – there can be few more powerful accusations than the one of self-indulgence. Paul got it from Ron, and I got it from Paul. This is the voice I hear all the time: Be a man. Man up. Act like a man. Get a grip. Get real. Get over yourself. Pull yourself together. Sort yourself out. Stop moaning. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. You don’t know you’re born. BE A MAN. MAN UP. ACT LIKE A MAN . . .

imagine you’re in a doctor’s surgery with a broken arm. The person next to you has two broken arms. The person next to him has two broken arms and a broken leg. This is all very well, but the point is that you have a broken arm and it hurts. The others may indeed be worse off. But they aren’t here this morning. You are. So . . . tell me about your broken arm.’

Feminism is not about men versus women; it’s about men and women versus The Trick.