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As I was walking up the stair. I met a man who wasn't…

“As I was walking up the stair. I met a man who wasn't there. He wasn't there again today. I wish, I wish he'd stay away.” quote by Hughes Mearns
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“As I was walking up the stair. I met a man who wasn't there. He wasn't there again today. I wish, I wish he'd stay away.”

Hughes Mearns

About This Quote

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

The speaker encounters an imagined or absent figure repeatedly, expressing a desire for distance, reflecting inner turmoil or unresolved conflict.

In simple terms: An imagined presence haunts, but the speaker wants it gone.

Key Takeaway

Acknowledge and set boundaries with intrusive thoughts.

Themes

loneliness mental health boundaries

Mood

melancholic introspective

Type

poetic philosophical

When to use this quote

  • grief processing
  • self‑reflection
  • creative writing
  • therapy sessions

Key Concepts

psychology existential angst imaginary encounters

Questions to Reflect On

  • What inner “man” do you wish to keep away?
  • How can you transform unwanted thoughts into growth?
A Different Perspective

The line may be interpreted as a literal ghost story, limiting its psychological depth.

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