--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Was there anything under those lids?…" description: "\"“Was there anything under those lids? Remorse, resentment, even indifference? Or was there only nothing? Nothing often poses in men as wisdom.”\" — Davi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87e/david-mitchell-264_indifference_was-there-anything-under-those-lids-remo_3137392.jpg" --- # Was there anything under those lids? Remorse, resentment… ![“Was there anything under those lids? Remorse, resentment, even indifference? Or was there only nothing? Nothing often poses in men as wisdom.” quote by David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87e/david-mitchell-264_indifference_was-there-anything-under-those-lids-remo_3137392.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87e/david-mitchell-264_indifference_was-there-anything-under-those-lids-remo_3137392.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87e/david-mitchell-264_indifference_was-there-anything-under-those-lids-remo_3137392.jpg) > ““Was there anything under those lids? Remorse, resentment, even indifference? Or was there only nothing? Nothing often poses in men as wisdom.”” [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage questions whether inner emotions like remorse or indifference exist, or if emptiness is the true state, suggesting that emptiness can masquerade as wisdom. **In simple terms:** We may mistake emptiness for wisdom. Key Takeaway Examine what truly drives you. Themes identity existentialism perception Mood thoughtful introspective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal reflection - creative writing - psychotherapy Key Concepts philosophy psychology self‑knowledge Questions to Reflect On - What emotions are you avoiding? - How does silence shape your decisions? A Different Perspective Emptiness can be a false comfort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Indifference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indifference/) [Indifference Poses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indifference-poses-5574363/) [Lids Remorse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lids-remorse-5574361/) [Men Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-wisdom-624622/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Resentment Indifference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resentment-indifference-5574362/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [“Nothing often poses in men as wisdom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/nothing-often-poses-in-men-as-wisdom/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [Men of wisdom are not giving to worthless communication, but the foolish man talks himself into trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/men-of-wisdom-are-not-giving-to-worthless-communication-but-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [How can we judge fairly of the characters and merits of men, of the wisdom or folly of actions, unless we have . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wilberforce/how-can-we-judge-fairly-of-the-characters-and-merits-of-men-of-the/) [William Wilberforce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wilberforce/) > [A proverb is one man's wit and all men's wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/a-proverb-is-one-man-s-wit-and-all-men-s-wisdom/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [We can be knowledgeable with other men's knowledge, but we cannot be wise with other men's wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/we-can-be-knowledgeable-with-other-men-s-knowledge-but-we-cannot-be/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Animals, in their generation, are wiser than the sons of men; but their wisdom is confined to a few particulars, and lies in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/animals-in-their-generation-are-wiser-than-the-sons-of-men-but-their/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Fortune, thou hadst no deity, if men Had wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/fortune-thou-hadst-no-deity-if-men-had-wisdom/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [If men of wisdom and knowledge, of moderation and temperance, of patience, fortitude and perseverance, of sobriety and true republican simplicity of manners, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/if-men-of-wisdom-and-knowledge-of-moderation-and-temperance-of/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [Knowledge and wisdom, far from being one, Have oft-times no connection. 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Knowledge dwells In heads replete with thoughts of other men: Wisdom, in minds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders-2/knowledge-and-wisdom-far-from-being-one-have-ofttimes-no-connection/) [J Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders-2/) > [Science robs men of wisdom and usually converts them into phantom beings loaded up with facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/science-robs-men-of-wisdom-and-usually-converts-them-into-phantom/) [Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/) > [Love is the foolishness of men, and the wisdom of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/love-is-the-foolishness-of-men-and-the-wisdom-of-god/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Knowledge dwells in heads replete with thoughts of other men; wisdom in minds attentive to their own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/knowledge-dwells-in-heads-replete-with-thoughts-of-other-men-wisdom/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [We can be knowledgable with other men's knowledge but we cannot be wise with other men's wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/we-can-be-knowledgable-with-other-men-s-knowledge-but-we-cannot-be/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## More by David Mitchell > [“In the next room a freckly girl Julia's age sat in a wheelchair. One of her legs wasn't there. She'd probably love to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/in-the-next-room-a-freckly-girl-julia-s-age-sat-in-a-wheelchair-one/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [“I envied my uncritical, unthinking sisters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/i-envied-my-uncritical-unthinking-sisters/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [“... Ethical cyberexplorers are responsible, yeah? We are friendly ghosts in the machine, not poltergeists or hooligans. We are a growing breed. Over sixty-five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/ethical-cyberexplorers-are-responsible-yeah-we-are-friendly-ghosts-in/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [“I succumbed. Late-fifteenth-century verb, Old French succomber or Latin succumbere, but a basic necessity of the human condition, especially mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/i-succumbed-late-fifteenth-century-verb-old-french-succomber-or-latin/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [Your environment affects you wherever you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/your-environment-affects-you-wherever-you-are/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [“The second tunnel’s a Ministry of Defence tunnel...dug for a nuclear bomb shelter. 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That's trombonists for you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/only-the-trombonist-played-on-that-s-trombonists-for-you/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [War's an auction where whoever can pay the most in damage and still be standing wins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/war-s-an-auction-where-whoever-can-pay-the-most-in-damage-and-still/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [The human world is made of stories, not people. The people the stories use to tell themselves are not to be blamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/the-human-world-is-made-of-stories-not-people-the-people-the-stories/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [So little is actually worthy of belief or disbelief. Better to strive to coexist than seek to disapprove . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/so-little-is-actually-worthy-of-belief-or-disbelief-better-to-strive/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [I elbowed my way into the grubby café, bought a pie that tasted of shoe polish and a pot of tea with cork crumbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/i-elbowed-my-way-into-the-grubby-caf-bought-a-pie-that-tasted-of-shoe/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [“A classical LP was playing... ... Jealous and sweet, this music was, sobbing and gorgeous, muddy and crystal. But if the right words existed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/a-classical-lp-was-playing-jealous-and-sweet-this-music-was-sobbing/) [david mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [How lazily "xperts" dismiss what they fail to understand!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/how-lazily-xperts-dismiss-what-they-fail-to-understand/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [“Writing poetry's,' I looked around the solarium, but Madame Crommelynck's got a tractor beam, 'sort of . . . gay.' '"Gay"? A merry activity?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/writing-poetry-s-i-looked-around-the-solarium-but-madame-crommelynck/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) [Explore all 748 David Mitchell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) ## More Indifference quotes > [Violence is not necessary to destroy a civilization. Each civilization dies from indifference toward the unique values which created it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-gomez-davila/violence-is-not-necessary-to-destroy-a-civilization-each-civilization/) [Nicolas Gomez Davila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-gomez-davila/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [“Courage did not come from the need to survive, or from a brute indifference inherited from someone else, but from a driving need for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/courage-did-not-come-from-the-need-to-survive-or-from-a-brute/) [Gabriel García Márquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [Indifference is harder to fight than hostility, and there is nothing that kills an agitation like having everybody admit that it is fundamentally right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-eastman/indifference-is-harder-to-fight-than-hostility-and-there-is-nothing/) [Crystal Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-eastman/) > [Love and hate, despite their polar opposites, are both feelings that are induced by passion. I can handle that. It's the indifference I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/love-and-hate-despite-their-polar-opposites-are-both-feelings-that/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“I wasn't sure which I appreciated less—the insincere concern or the genuine indifference.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-graham/i-wasn-t-sure-which-i-appreciated-less-the-insincere-concern-or-the/) [Arthur Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-graham/) > [If I were entering adulthood now instead of in the environment of fifty years ago, I would choose a career that kept me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/if-i-were-entering-adulthood-now-instead-of-in-the-environment-of/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [Desire is half of life, indifference is half of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/desire-is-half-of-life-indifference-is-half-of-death/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What's wrong with death sir? What are we so mortally afraid of? Why can't we treat death with a certain amount of humanity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/what-s-wrong-with-death-sir-what-are-we-so-mortally-afraid-of-why-can/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [I'm not very interested in people. I recognize it in myself - there is a basic indifference toward people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-m-not-very-interested-in-people-i-recognize-it-in-myself-there-is-a/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [Adorn thyself with simplicity and with indifference towards the things which lie between virtue and vice. Love mankind. Follow God. The poet says that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/adorn-thyself-with-simplicity-and-with-indifference-towards-the/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [One's own troubles can be borne with fortitude; only a monster of indifference can bear the sufferings of others with fortitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ertz/one-s-own-troubles-can-be-borne-with-fortitude-only-a-monster-of/) [Susan Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ertz/) > [Many men without morals have attacked religion because it was contrary to their inclinations. Many wise men have despised it because it seemed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-d-holbach/many-men-without-morals-have-attacked-religion-because-it-was/) [Baron d'Holbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-d-holbach/) > [Indifference to one's own faith is no proof of tolerance. Loyalty to one's own is part of a larger loyalty to faith generally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-hillel-silver/indifference-to-one-s-own-faith-is-no-proof-of-tolerance-loyalty-to/) [Abba Hillel Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-hillel-silver/) > [I know well, Monsieur, how much you have to endure in your present duty, and I ask Our Lord to strengthen you in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-de-paul/i-know-well-monsieur-how-much-you-have-to-endure-in-your-present-duty/) [Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-de-paul/) [Browse all 1,128 Indifference quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indifference/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Was there anything under those lids? Remorse, resentment, even indifference? Or was there only nothing? 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