Alienation Quote by D.H. Lawrence
““So he was always in the town at one place or another, drinking, knocking about with the men he knew. It really wearied him. He talked to barmaids, to almost any woman, but there was that dark, strained look in his eyes, as if he were hunting something. Everything seemed so different, so unreal. There seemed no reason why people should go along the street, and houses pile up in the daylight. There seemed no reason why these things should occupy the space, instead of leaving it empty. His friends talked to him: he heard the sounds, and he answered. But why there should be the noise of speech he could not understand.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Women, D.H. Lawrence, 1920
The narrator feels alienated, observing ordinary life as strange and disconnected, hinting at an inner search for meaning amidst social monotony.
In simple terms: He feels detached from everyday life.
Key Takeaway
Seek deeper connection beyond routine.
Themes
alienation
search for meaning
urban life
Mood
melancholic
contemplative
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- daily commute
- social gatherings
- personal introspection
- creative writing
Key Concepts
existentialism
social critique
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes ordinary moments feel unreal?
- How can you find meaning in daily life?
A Different Perspective
The passage may romanticize disconnection, overlooking community benefits.
![“Anthropology has always struggled with an intense, fascinated repulsion towards its subject… [The anthropologist] submits himself to the exotic to confirm his own inner alienation as an urban intellectual.” quote by Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fe1/susan-sontag-332_alienation_anthropology-has-always-struggled-with-a_15322.jpg)
