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Humankind can't stand too much reality.
T. S. Eliot
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Interpretation

What this quote means

People often struggle to cope with the harsh truths of life.

T. S. Eliot's quote suggests that humanity has a natural tendency to avoid or deny uncomfortable realities. This notion highlights the psychological barriers people create to protect themselves from the often harsh truths of existence, implying that facing reality can be overwhelming and difficult.

Themes

RealityHumankindTruthPsychologyExistence

In practice

Example use cases

During a talk on mental health, one might quote this to illustrate the challenges people face in confronting their issues.

More from T. S. Eliot

There is no feeling, except the extremes of fear and grief, that does not find relief in music.
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Half of the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don't mean to do harm. But the harm does not interest them.
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I am an Anglo-Catholic in religion, a classicist in literature and a royalist in politics.
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If you aren't in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?
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For I have known them all already, known them allβ€” Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons, I have measured out my life with coffee spoons.
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In the faint moonlight, the grass is singing
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