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Then came the deglutition of saliva, and the old lady…

“Then came the deglutition of saliva, and the old lady instinctively wiped the stubble of her toothbrush moustache with her handkerchief.” quote by Marcel Proust
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““Then came the deglutition of saliva, and the old lady instinctively wiped the stubble of her toothbrush moustache with her handkerchief.””

Marcel Proust

About This Quote

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

A vivid, sensory description of an elderly woman's habit of cleaning her moustache after swallowing saliva.

In simple terms: Elderly woman cleans moustache after swallowing.

Key Takeaway

Notice small, odd habits.

Themes

observation humor aging

Mood

wry observational

Type

literary humorous

When to use this quote

  • dining
  • personal grooming
  • social interaction

Key Concepts

sensory detail character study

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does this habit reveal about her character?
  • Why focus on such a mundane detail?
A Different Perspective

May overlook deeper emotional context.

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