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There’s a certain tear-jerking way that some people can go…

“There’s a certain tear-jerking way that some people can go slowly wide-eyed before any entertainment. I watch them at movies and in shows sometimes, and if the action is good, their shoulders will slope and they turn right into open-mouthed children. Some of them are so old you wouldn’t think…” quote by William S. Burroughs Jr
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““There’s a certain tear-jerking way that some people can go slowly wide-eyed before any entertainment. I watch them at movies and in shows sometimes, and if the action is good, their shoulders will slope and they turn right into open-mouthed children. Some of them are so old you wouldn’t think anything could get through to them, but the sight of one of them seen from a few feet behind, catching the glow from stage or screen lights, hits me as a miracle every time.””

William S. Burroughs Jr

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 marvels at how some people become emotionally overwhelmed by simple visual stimuli, turning into childlike awe when they encounter compelling performance art.

In simple terms: People can become childlike in awe when deeply moved by art.

Key Takeaway

Notice and cherish moments of pure wonder.

Themes

awe empathy art appreciation generational perception

Mood

wonderful reflective nostalgic

Type

observational philosophical

When to use this quote

  • cinema viewing
  • live theater
  • family gatherings
  • intergenerational bonding

Key Concepts

psychology of emotion cognitive response nostalgia

Questions to Reflect On

  • What triggers your own childlike wonder?
  • How does shared awe affect relationships?
A Different Perspective

Not everyone experiences this intensity; some may remain detached.

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