Gossip Friday: Mistaken Conceit

From October 1934:

It remained for Clark Gable to give a sensible explanation of “mistaken conceit.”

“Many screen stars are so described,” Gable said, “Because people are looking for reasons to apply the high-hat phrase. For instance, suppose A and B, two friends, pass on the street, and A fails to see B. Later, B says, ‘I saw A on the street today and he didn’t see me,’ and that ends the matter.

“But let A become a movie star, and then let them pass on the street, and let A again fail to see N. At once B hastens around town crying, “A has gone hi-hat. He passed me up on the street today, without speaking.’ And because it is human to believe the worst about another human being, everybody agrees that A is a conceited ass.”

Thanks, Clark. Actually the explanation is most reasonable.