Rory Stewart: How would you sum yourself up in three words? — FLAPSS

The question

How would you sum yourself up in three words?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

The Guardian's weekly The Q&A repeatedly uses this exact standing prompt.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

RS

Rory Stewart

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

Scrappy, quixotic, curious.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 January 2026 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 114 →

Chaotic, warm, northern.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 3 January 2026 source ↗

Impatient, funny, worrier.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 27 June 2026 source ↗

Chris Bonington

Resourceful, resilient and compassionate.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 March 2025 source ↗

High-functioning introvert.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 May 2025 source ↗

More from Rory Stewart

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Question Which trait in yourself do you like least? Identity & self

Being too thin-skinned.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 January 2026 source ↗

Question When did you last change your mind about something important? Change of mind

The US election showed me that I had trapped myself in wishful thinking.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 January 2026 source ↗

Question What one change would most improve the quality of your daily life? Daily life

Living in a ski resort.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 January 2026 source ↗

Question When were you most embarrassed? Failure & regret

Having somebody pull my judo trousers down at a competition when I was seven. And finding I wasn’t wearing any pants.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 January 2026 source ↗

Question What lesson has mattered most in your life? Time & hindsight

That I am not wise.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 January 2026 source ↗

Question If you could revise one chapter of your past, what would you change? Failure & regret

Moments of vanity, carelessness and unkindness.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 17 January 2026 source ↗

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