Notre dame Quote by Christopher Isherwood
““Finally, after a glance at Notre Dame and a brisk trot through the Louvre, we sat down at a cafe on the Place de l'Opera and watched the people. They were amazing -- never had we seen such costumes, such make-up, such wigs; and, strangest of all, the wearers didn't seem in the least conscious of how funny they looked. Many of them even stared at us and smiled, as though we had been the oddities, and not they. Mr. Holmes no doubt found it amusing to see the pageant of prostitution, poverty and fashion reflected in our callow faces and wide-open eyes.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Goodbye to Berlin by Christopher Isherwood, 1939
The passage observes how tourists are fascinated by the flamboyant street life of Paris, noting the contrast between the performers' obliviousness to their own absurdity and the observers' naive curiosity.
In simple terms: Tourists marvel at flamboyant street life while performers are unaware of their own absurdity.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the blind spots in your own perspective.
Themes
culture
observation
identity
tourism
performance
Mood
curious
reflective
critical
Type
literary
observational
social commentary
When to use this quote
- travel
- artistic observation
- social critique
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
social masks
self-awareness
urban spectacle
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your own cultural lens shape what you notice?
- What assumptions do you make about the people you observe?
A Different Perspective
The view may romanticize poverty and exploitation, overlooking deeper systemic issues.
