Callous Quote by Daphne du Maurier
“I felt rather exhausted, and wondered, rather shocked at my callous thought, why old people were sometimes such a strain. Worse than young children or puppies because one had to be polite.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Rebecca, 1938
The narrator feels exhausted and shocked by her harsh thoughts about elderly people, seeing them as burdens despite their politeness.
In simple terms: Elderly can feel burdensome, causing guilt.
Key Takeaway
Reflect on age‑related biases.
Themes
ageism
guilt
empathy
Mood
melancholic
thoughtful
Type
reflective
philosophical
When to use this quote
- caregiving
- intergenerational relationships
- workplace age diversity
Key Concepts
social perception
family dynamics
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we view aging negatively?
- How can we foster respect for elders?
A Different Perspective
Biases may be rooted in societal expectations.
![“In fact, [Bernard Leach] was several generations removed from us. At that time we were there, I think Alix [MacKenzie] and I were 26 and 28, and Leach was about 63, and we thought he was a very old man. I used to always want to help him up the stairs in the house for fear he'd fall. Actually, he…” quote by Warren MacKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5c2/warren-mackenzie-4654_conditions_in-fact-bernard-leach-was-several-genera_506681.jpg)
