Richard and I looked at one another again. It was a most…
““Richard and I looked at one another again. It was a most singular thing that the arrest was our embarrassment and not Mr. Skimpole's. He observed us with a genial interest, but there seemed, if I may venture on such a contradiction, nothing selfish in it. He had entirely washed his hands of the difficulty, and it had become ours.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The characters feel embarrassed by their own arrest, not by the antagonist, showing personal responsibility and detachment from the villain's actions.
In simple terms: They are ashamed of their own situation, not the villain’s.
Key Takeaway
Accept personal accountability for your circumstances.
Themes
responsibility
embarrassment
detachment
Mood
reflective
somber
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- legal trouble
- personal crisis
- public scandal
- ethical dilemmas
Key Concepts
self‑awareness
moral agency
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you distinguish personal shame from external blame?
- When does detachment become indifference?
A Different Perspective
The quote assumes a clear moral divide that may oversimplify complex social pressures.