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They weren’t. They never have been, for me. Friends, too…

“They weren’t. They never have been, for me. Friends, too, though delightful, seemed, at those moments of weariness, only delightful if properly spaced, and how is one to space anybody or anything in London? Of everything there, there appeared to be too much. And I would sit despondent on the edge…” quote by Elizabeth von Arnim
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““They weren’t. They never have been, for me. Friends, too, though delightful, seemed, at those moments of weariness, only delightful if properly spaced, and how is one to space anybody or anything in London? Of everything there, there appeared to be too much. And I would sit despondent on the edge of the bed, and fall to remembering the roomy years in Pomerania, when only every six months did we go to, or give, a party, and the glorious times I had had in Switzerland between the visits of guests, when Coco and I were alone with mountains. From these meditations it did finally appear that I wasn’t suited to crowds,””

Elizabeth von Arnim

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The narrator feels overwhelmed by crowded urban life and longs for the solitude and spaciousness of rural settings, realizing crowds are not for her.

In simple terms: She prefers quiet, open places over busy cities.

Key Takeaway

Seek environments that match your temperament.

Themes

solitude urban fatigue nostalgia

Mood

melancholic reflective

Type

personal reflective

When to use this quote

  • city living
  • travel planning
  • mental health retreats
  • personal reflection

Key Concepts

psychology environmental preference

Questions to Reflect On

  • Do you thrive in bustling environments?
  • How can you balance solitude with social needs?
A Different Perspective

Crowds can offer valuable social connections and opportunities.

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