What is it that allows human beings to see through each…
““What is it that allows human beings to see through each other's pretendings? For I understood quite clearly in that moment that she was anxious. Perhaps emotions have a smell or a taste; perhaps we transmit them unknowingly by vibrations in the air. Whatever the means, I knew just as surely that it was nothing about me in particular that alarmed her, but only the fact that I had come and was a stranger.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Human intuition can sense others' emotions through subtle, perhaps sensory, cues, especially when strangers.
In simple terms: We can feel others' feelings without words.
Key Takeaway
Trust your gut feelings about others.
Themes
empathy
perception
communication
Mood
thoughtful
introspective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- first meetings
- interviews
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
psychology
nonverbal cues
Questions to Reflect On
- What cues do you rely on in new encounters?
- Can intuition be mistaken?
A Different Perspective
Sensory explanations are metaphorical, not literal.