It had been in a Paris house, with many people around, and…
““It had been in a Paris house, with many people around, and my dear friend Jules Darboux, wishing to do me a refined aesthetic favor, had touched my sleeve and said, "I want you to meet-" and led me to Nina, who sat in the corner of a couch, her body folded Z-wise, with an ashtray at her heel, and she took a long turquoise cigarette holder from her lips and joyfully, slowly exclaimed, "Well, of all people-" and then all evening my heart felt like breaking, as I passed from group to group with a sticky glass in my fist, now and then looking at her from a distance (she did not look...), and listening to scraps of conversation, and overheard one man saying to another, "Funny, how they all smell alike, burnt leaf through whatever perfume they use, those angular dark-haired girls," and as it often happens, a trivial remark related to some unknown topic coiled and clung to one's own intimate recollection, a parasite of its sadness.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A fleeting encounter with a mysterious woman triggers deep melancholy, intertwining personal longing with the surrounding social scene.
In simple terms: A brief meeting stirs sorrow and nostalgia.
Key Takeaway
Notice how brief moments can linger emotionally.
Themes
loneliness
memory
desire
social observation
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
literary
poetic
When to use this quote
- nightlife
- artistic gatherings
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
existentialism
romanticism
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this encounter reveal about the narrator’s inner world?
- How do fleeting social moments shape lasting feelings?
A Different Perspective
The emotional impact may be amplified by the narrator’s own sensitivity.