Stranger Quote by Diane Setterfield
““What is it that allows human beings to see through each other's pretendings? For I understood quite clearly in that moment that she was anxious. Perhaps emotions have a smell or a taste; perhaps we transmit them unknowingly by vibrations in the air. Whatever the means, I knew just as surely that it was nothing about me in particular that alarmed her, but only the fact that I had come and was a stranger.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Thirteenth Tale, 2006
Human intuition can sense others' emotions through subtle, perhaps sensory, cues, especially when strangers.
In simple terms: We can feel others' feelings without words.
Key Takeaway
Trust your gut feelings about others.
Themes
empathy
perception
communication
Mood
thoughtful
introspective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- first meetings
- interviews
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
psychology
nonverbal cues
Questions to Reflect On
- What cues do you rely on in new encounters?
- Can intuition be mistaken?
A Different Perspective
Sensory explanations are metaphorical, not literal.
