There is no feeling, except the extremes of fear and grief, that does not find relief in music.
T. S. EliotRead
Simple and faithless as a smile and shake of the hand.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A smile and a handshake represent genuine but often fleeting connections between people.
In this quote, T. S. Eliot emphasizes the simplicity and transience of human interactions, suggesting that gestures like a smile and handshake, while meaningful, can sometimes lack depth and commitment. These actions symbolize friendliness and agreement, yet they may be performed without true intention or connection, highlighting the complex nature of relationships.
Themes
SmileHandshakeRelationshipsConnectionsInteraction
In practice
Example use cases
During a networking event, to emphasize the importance of making genuine connections, one might use this quote.
More from T. S. Eliot
All quotes βHalf 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.
T. S. EliotRead
I am an Anglo-Catholic in religion, a classicist in literature and a royalist in politics.
T. S. EliotRead
If you aren't in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?
T. S. EliotRead
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.
T. S. EliotRead
In the faint moonlight, the grass is singing
T. S. EliotRead
Similar quotes
If you've ever been homesick, or felt exiled from all the things and people that once defined you, you'll know how important welcoming words and friendly smiles can be.
Stephen KingRead
What is important is that we stop and realize, 'Okay. This is fine. I can enjoy that.' But what is really important, what I'm really going to take away with me from this life, is my connection with other people.
Tom FordRead
Women forget all the things they don't want to remember, and remember everything they don't want to forget.
Zora Neale HurstonRead
Church is the textured context in which we grow up in Christ to maturity. But church is difficult. Sooner or later, though, if we are serious about growing up in Christ, we have to deal with church. I say sooner.
Eugene H. PetersonRead
I can remember, when I was in college, irritating deeply somebody I was going out with, because he would ask me what I was thinking and I would say I was thinking nothing. And it was true.
Joan DidionRead
Women are books, and men the readers be.
Benjamin FranklinRead