---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Beneath outer consciousness, two other…"
description: "\"“Beneath outer consciousness, two other beings, anonymous, impersonal, without labels, had met and recognized each other and clasped hands.”\" — Christo..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcd/christopher-isherwood-2302_philosophy-of-mind_beneath-outer-consciousness-two-other-be_701510.jpg"
---

#  Beneath outer consciousness, two other beings, anonymous…

![“Beneath outer consciousness, two other beings, anonymous, impersonal, without labels, had met and recognized each other and clasped hands.” quote by Christopher Isherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcd/christopher-isherwood-2302_philosophy-of-mind_beneath-outer-consciousness-two-other-be_701510.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcd/christopher-isherwood-2302_philosophy-of-mind_beneath-outer-consciousness-two-other-be_701510.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcd/christopher-isherwood-2302_philosophy-of-mind_beneath-outer-consciousness-two-other-be_701510.jpg)

> ““Beneath outer consciousness, two other beings, anonymous, impersonal, without labels, had met and recognized each other and clasped hands.””

[Christopher Isherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-isherwood/)

## About This Quote

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

Beyond conscious self, deeper anonymous connections can arise, leading to mutual recognition.

**In simple terms:** Deep connections exist beyond conscious awareness.

Key Takeaway

Seek deeper, unseen connections.

Themes

identity connection self other

Mood

introspective hopeful

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- relationships
- artistic collaboration
- intimate dialogue

Key Concepts

psychology philosophy spirituality

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you recognize genuine connection?
- What barriers exist to deeper understanding?

A Different Perspective

Such connections may be idealized rather than real.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/)

## Related quotes

> [The idea of Buddha consciousness is that all beings are Buddha beings, and your whole function in meditation and everything else is to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-idea-of-buddha-consciousness-is-that-all-beings-are-buddha-beings/)

[Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/)

> [“Although her heart had been dead for years, she clasped her hands over her breast to protect what rested underneath.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/montgomery-mahaffey/although-her-heart-had-been-dead-for-years-she-clasped-her-hands-over/)

[Montgomery Mahaffey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/montgomery-mahaffey/)

> [Now, when their glances met, they understood one another. The power that lay within both their souls had met, and, as it were, clasped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/now-when-their-glances-met-they-understood-one-another-the-power-that/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“I'm sorry, I really did want to talk to you." His free hand went to her face and cupped her cheek. Something tightened pleasantly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aria-kane/i-m-sorry-i-really-did-want-to-talk-to-you-his-free-hand-went-to-her/)

[Aria Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aria-kane/)

> [“Even though the dance floor was filled with beauty and color enough to dazzle any eye, Odette had no desire to look away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-dickerson/even-though-the-dance-floor-was-filled-with-beauty-and-color-enough/)

[Melanie Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-dickerson/)

> [Who has not seen that feeling born of flame Crimson the cheek at mention of a name? The rapturous touch of some divine surpriseFlash…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-coles/who-has-not-seen-that-feeling-born-of-flame-crimson-the-cheek-at/)

[Abraham Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-coles/)

> [“I’m the Captain of the Guard—I’m not exactly a catch for any of them.” There was some sorrow in his eyes, though it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-m-the-captain-of-the-guard-i-m-not-exactly-a-catch-for-any-of-them/)

[Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/)

> [United by their clasped hands, they became again the two halves, the light and the dark. The Destroyer and the Savior. A whole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/united-by-their-clasped-hands-they-became-again-the-two-halves-the/)

[J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/)

> [The moment when my husband and I clasped hands and turned from our officiant, newly wed, was the most light-filled of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-van-den-berg/the-moment-when-my-husband-and-i-clasped-hands-and-turned-from-our/)

[Laura van den Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-van-den-berg/)

> [“Recover? She clasped her hands in her lap, staring at them as pain welled up in her chest. Could one recover from a broken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-summers/recover-she-clasped-her-hands-in-her-lap-staring-at-them-as-pain/)

[Sasha Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-summers/)

> [“She heard the echoes of Ian’s screams in her head. Beth pressed her forehead to his hands, her heart wrenching. Ian’s hands were large,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-ashley/she-heard-the-echoes-of-ian-s-screams-in-her-head-beth-pressed-her/)

[Jennifer Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-ashley/)

> [“As the sun began to rise, the man reached out to the woman, and they clasped hands. He cradled her, and languidly they lifted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-fielding/as-the-sun-began-to-rise-the-man-reached-out-to-the-woman-and-they/)

[Hannah Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-fielding/)

> [“Imagine: If a man who shakes hands up and down meets a man who shakes hands side to side, what will happen? Nathan looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-theroux/imagine-if-a-man-who-shakes-hands-up-and-down-meets-a-man-who-shakes/)

[Marcel Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-theroux/)

> [Let Love step down, open the clasped hands, forfeit the thorny crown, retrieve the garment that was whole, body and spirit one, spirit and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilda-doolittle/let-love-step-down-open-the-clasped-hands-forfeit-the-thorny-crown/)

[Hilda Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilda-doolittle/)

> [“I was barely breathing now, my head felt light. I stumbled to the nearest bench and I clasped my hands together, my fingers gripping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-thiel/i-was-barely-breathing-now-my-head-felt-light-i-stumbled-to-the/)

[Tamara Thiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-thiel/)

## More by Christopher Isherwood

> [“From his angle, the curtain seems to form itself into a shrouded, wavering figure, indescribably terrifying in its very indistinctness. Something waiting, hovering on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-isherwood/from-his-angle-the-curtain-seems-to-form-itself-into-a-shrouded/)

[Christopher Isherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-isherwood/)

> [“If you really have talent, you know, you'll go on writing - whatever people say to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-isherwood/if-you-really-have-talent-you-know-you-ll-go-on-writing-whatever/)

[Christopher Isherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-isherwood/)

> [But seriously, I believe I'm a sort of Ideal Woman, if you know what I mean. I'm the sort of woman who can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-isherwood/but-seriously-i-believe-i-m-a-sort-of-ideal-woman-if-you-know-what-i/)

[Christopher Isherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-isherwood/)

> [If it’s going to be a world with no time for sentiment, it’s not a world that I want to live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-isherwood/if-it-s-going-to-be-a-world-with-no-time-for-sentiment-it-s-not-a/)

[Christopher Isherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-isherwood/)

> [“By the time it has gotten dressed, it has become he; has become already more or less George — though still not the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-isherwood/by-the-time-it-has-gotten-dressed-it-has-become-he-has-become-already/)

[Christopher Isherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-isherwood/)

> [“George feels that, even if all this double talk hasn't brought them any closer to understanding each other, the not-understanding, the readiness to remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-isherwood/george-feels-that-even-if-all-this-double-talk-hasn-t-brought-them/)

[Christopher Isherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-isherwood/)

> [“Now, for example, people with freckles aren’t thought of as a minority by the nonfreckled. They aren’t a minority in the sense we’re talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-isherwood/now-for-example-people-with-freckles-aren-t-thought-of-as-a-minority/)

[Christopher Isherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-isherwood/)

> [“Even when they are geniuses in spite of it, their masterpieces are invariably warped.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-isherwood/even-when-they-are-geniuses-in-spite-of-it-their-masterpieces-are/)

[Christopher Isherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-isherwood/)

> [“Here, in their midst, George feels a sort of vertigo. Oh God, what will become of them all? What chance have they? Ought I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-isherwood/here-in-their-midst-george-feels-a-sort-of-vertigo-oh-god-what-will/)

[Christopher Isherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-isherwood/)

> [“I put my genius into my life, not into my art.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-isherwood/i-put-my-genius-into-my-life-not-into-my-art/)

[Christopher Isherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-isherwood/)

> [We must remember that nothing in this world really belongs to us. At best, we are merely borrowers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-isherwood/we-must-remember-that-nothing-in-this-world-really-belongs-to-us-at/)

[Christopher Isherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-isherwood/)

> [In the eternal lazy morning of the Pacific, days slip away into months, months into years; the seasons are reduced to the faintest nuance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-isherwood/in-the-eternal-lazy-morning-of-the-pacific-days-slip-away-into-months/)

[Christopher Isherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-isherwood/)

> [“Waking up begins with am and now. That which has awoken then lies for a while staring up at the ceiling and down into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-isherwood/waking-up-begins-with-am-and-now-that-which-has-awoken-then-lies-for/)

[Christopher Isherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-isherwood/)

> [“Like a long train which stops at every dingy little station, the winter dragged slowly past.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-isherwood/like-a-long-train-which-stops-at-every-dingy-little-station-the/)

[Christopher Isherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-isherwood/)

> [Every writer has certain subjects that they write about again and again, and . . . most people's books are just variations on certain themes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-isherwood/every-writer-has-certain-subjects-that-they-write-about-again-and/)

[Christopher Isherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-isherwood/)

[Explore all 169 Christopher Isherwood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-isherwood/)

## More Philosophy of Mind quotes

> [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/)

[Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/)

> [“I had nowhere to go and did not wish to be seen by anyone for fear they would recognize my sadness and so for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dewitt/i-had-nowhere-to-go-and-did-not-wish-to-be-seen-by-anyone-for-fear/)

[Patrick deWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dewitt/)

> [“do not misunderstand person by beauty You really do not know its real or Mask on dirty thoughts”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-zaki-ansari/do-not-misunderstand-person-by-beauty-you-really-do-not-know-its-real/)

[Mohammed Zaki Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-zaki-ansari/)

> [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [“the mind-numbing routine. It was the castration of thought,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/the-mind-numbing-routine-it-was-the-castration-of-thought/)

[Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/)

> [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [How wonderful it would be to scatter words as they rise to consciousness, to let them lie where they fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-scott/how-wonderful-it-would-be-to-scatter-words-as-they-rise-to/)

[Joanna Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-scott/)

> [If I held all the thoughts of the world in my hand, I would be careful not to open it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-le-bovier-de-fontenelle/if-i-held-all-the-thoughts-of-the-world-in-my-hand-i-would-be-careful/)

[Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-le-bovier-de-fontenelle/)

> [With the realization of God comes all power. If the little wave knew that behind it is the great ocean, it could say, "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/with-the-realization-of-god-comes-all-power-if-the-little-wave-knew/)

[Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/)

> [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/)

[David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/)

> [Knowing does not always allow us to prevent, but at least the things that we know, we hold them, if not in our hands,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/knowing-does-not-always-allow-us-to-prevent-but-at-least-the-things/)

[Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/)

> [“Your highest thoughts hold the key to your highest rewards.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/your-highest-thoughts-hold-the-key-to-your-highest-rewards/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“It means, first, that everything that appears in public can be seen and heard by everybody and has the widest possible publicity. For us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/it-means-first-that-everything-that-appears-in-public-can-be-seen-and/)

[Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/)

> [Forgotten thought is the ultimate entropy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-lintern/forgotten-thought-is-the-ultimate-entropy/)

Neil Lintern

> [“Entropy is the normal state of consciousness—a condition that is neither useful nor enjoyable. To avoid this condition, people are naturally eager to fill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/entropy-is-the-normal-state-of-consciousness-a-condition-that-is/)

[Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/)

[Browse all 12,692 Philosophy of Mind quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Beneath outer consciousness, two other beings, anonymous, impersonal, without labels, had met and recognized each other and clasped hands.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Christopher Isherwood"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-isherwood/beneath-outer-consciousness-two-other-beings-anonymous-impersonal/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Philosophy of Mind"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-isherwood/beneath-outer-consciousness-two-other-beings-anonymous-impersonal/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcd/christopher-isherwood-2302_philosophy-of-mind_beneath-outer-consciousness-two-other-be_701510.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcd/christopher-isherwood-2302_philosophy-of-mind_beneath-outer-consciousness-two-other-be_701510.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcd/christopher-isherwood-2302_philosophy-of-mind_beneath-outer-consciousness-two-other-be_701510.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Beneath outer consciousness, two other beings, anonymous, impersonal, without labels, had met and recognized…” — Christopher Isherwood",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Christopher Isherwood",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-isherwood/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Beneath outer consciousness, two other beings,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-isherwood/beneath-outer-consciousness-two-other-beings-anonymous-impersonal/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-isherwood/beneath-outer-consciousness-two-other-beings-anonymous-impersonal/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
