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Like the trains, she's never on time and always departing…

“Like the trains, she's never on time and always departing. Sympathy from strangers can be ruinous.” quote by Margaret Atwood
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““Like the trains, she's never on time and always departing. Sympathy from strangers can be ruinous.””

Margaret Atwood

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 compares a person to unreliable trains, suggesting that fleeting sympathy from strangers can cause harm.

In simple terms: Unreliable people and harmful sympathy.

Key Takeaway

Beware of superficial support and unreliable allies.

Themes

trust reliability sympathy

Mood

cautionary critical

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • network building
  • mental health
  • public speaking
  • charity work

Key Concepts

social dynamics psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • Who truly supports you?
  • How do you assess reliability?
A Different Perspective

Sympathy can be insincere and damaging.

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