They seemed to come suddenly upon happiness as if they had surprised a butterfly in the winter woods
Edith WhartonRead
They are all alike you know. They hold their tongues for years and you think you're safe, but when the opportunity comes they remember everything.
Interpretation
What this quote means
People often hide their true feelings or thoughts for a long time, but they can reveal them when the moment is right.
This quote by Edith Wharton reflects the idea that individuals are capable of holding back their thoughts and feelings for extended periods. However, when circumstances allow, they may unleash these hidden emotions or memories, often surprising those around them. It suggests that one should be aware that people may not always express their true opinions or feelings and that the repressed emotions may emerge when given the chance.
Themes
SecretsHidden FeelingsTruthMemoryOpportunity
In practice
Example use cases
This quote is perfect for a discussion on trust and relationships.
More from Edith Wharton
All quotes βSet wide the window. Let me drink the day.
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And I wonder, among all the tangles of this mortal coil, which one contains tighter knots to undo, & consequently suggests more tugging, & pain, & diversified elements of misery, than the marriage tie.
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As he paid the hansom and followed his wife's long train into the house he took refuge in the comforting platitude that the first six months were always the most difficult in marriage. 'After that I suppose we shall have pretty nearly finished rubbing off each otherβs angles,' he reflected; but the worst of it was that May's pressure was already bearing on the very angles whose sharpness he most wanted to keep
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There are two ways to spread happiness; either be the light who shines it or be the mirror who reflects it.
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The real loneliness is living among all these kind people who only ask one to pretend!
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