--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know how your visit and my strange…" description: "\"“I know how your visit and my strange behaviour must have affected you,\" he wrote. \" The sight of your face after all these years completely unnerved m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0c/emma-goldman-774_freedom_i-know-how-your-visit-and-my-strange-beh_2254819.png" --- # I know how your visit and my strange behaviour must have… ![“I know how your visit and my strange behaviour must have affected you," he wrote. " The sight of your face after all these years completely unnerved me. I could not think, I could not speak. It was as if all my dreams of freedom, the whole world of the living, were concentrated in the shiny little…” quote by Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0c/emma-goldman-774_freedom_i-know-how-your-visit-and-my-strange-beh_2254819.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0c/emma-goldman-774_freedom_i-know-how-your-visit-and-my-strange-beh_2254819.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0c/emma-goldman-774_freedom_i-know-how-your-visit-and-my-strange-beh_2254819.png) > ““I know how your visit and my strange behaviour must have affected you," he wrote. " The sight of your face after all these years completely unnerved me. I could not think, I could not speak. It was as if all my dreams of freedom, the whole world of the living, were concentrated in the shiny little trinket that was dangling from your watch-chain. I couldn't take my eyes off it, I couldn't keep my hand from playing with it. It absorbed my whole being. And all the time I felt how nervous you were at my silence, and I couldn't utter a word.”” [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He expresses profound nervousness and fascination with a watch-chain trinket, symbolizing yearning for freedom. **In simple terms:** He is stunned by a small object that reminds him of freedom. Key Takeaway Recognize how small symbols can trigger deep emotions. Themes longing freedom symbolism Mood thoughtful introspective Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - personal letters - political activism - artistic expression Key Concepts psychological fixation emotional intensity Questions to Reflect On - What objects hold personal meaning for you? - How do symbols shape your aspirations? A Different Perspective Symbolic focus can distract from broader issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Whole world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole-world/) ## Related quotes > [A nervous silence loosens tongues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-carey/a-nervous-silence-loosens-tongues/) [Jacqueline Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-carey/) > [“She always felt nervous around strange men, even though she’d known the man who’d hurt her. If a man who knew you could hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-bennett/she-always-felt-nervous-around-strange-men-even-though-she-d-known/) [Brit Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-bennett/) > [“You know, it was a revelation to me to learn that I don't have to be comfortable. Nowhere is it written that I must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-block/you-know-it-was-a-revelation-to-me-to-learn-that-i-don-t-have-to-be/) [Lawrence Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-block/) > [I've never felt nervous in front of big crowds and in big stadiums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/i-ve-never-felt-nervous-in-front-of-big-crowds-and-in-big-stadiums/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [From the time I was little, I always felt like an outsider. I always felt nervous and uncomfortable with myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-tom/from-the-time-i-was-little-i-always-felt-like-an-outsider-i-always/) [Lauren Tom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-tom/) > [I don't know about other comedians, but I know that I never have felt anything like stage fright. I've felt nervous before big shows,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moshe-kasher/i-don-t-know-about-other-comedians-but-i-know-that-i-never-have-felt/) [Moshe Kasher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moshe-kasher/) > [On record dates like that I never felt too nervous because everything was really overdubbed. When we did that album, we were in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-abercrombie/on-record-dates-like-that-i-never-felt-too-nervous-because-everything/) [John Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-abercrombie/) > [“They’ve already gone to the gate; they’re waiting for me there.” I felt nervous then so I added, “I said I wouldn’t be long—just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-christopher/they-ve-already-gone-to-the-gate-they-re-waiting-for-me-there-i-felt/) [Lucy Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-christopher/) > [As an actor, I felt nervous only during the release of my film. When I became a director, the anxious moments started once the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prabhu-deva/as-an-actor-i-felt-nervous-only-during-the-release-of-my-film-when-i/) [Prabhu Deva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prabhu-deva/) > [“He felt nervous and excited an happy and kind of filled with dread, all at the same time. It was the most emotion he'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/he-felt-nervous-and-excited-an-happy-and-kind-of-filled-with-dread/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [“I felt full of nervous energy so I went back inside the house, put on a music channel, and danced around the living room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-jones/i-felt-full-of-nervous-energy-so-i-went-back-inside-the-house-put-on/) [Lesley Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-jones/) > [I loved to dance and went to Studio 54 at least twice a week. But I always felt nervous around the people there. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaux-hemingway/i-loved-to-dance-and-went-to-studio-54-at-least-twice-a-week-but-i/) [Margaux Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaux-hemingway/) > [“This taught me a lot. I needed to stay relaxed, even when I felt nervous. I had to control my emotions. To keep the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-noble/this-taught-me-a-lot-i-needed-to-stay-relaxed-even-when-i-felt/) Chris Noble > [I've never felt as nervous as I did before a track meet - literally, stomach going crazy - 'cause it was just so difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/i-ve-never-felt-as-nervous-as-i-did-before-a-track-meet-literally/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [“I didn't feel evil. I felt nervous, scared, nothing more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-b-smith/i-didn-t-feel-evil-i-felt-nervous-scared-nothing-more/) Scott B. Smith ## More by Emma Goldman > [Poor human nature, what horrible crimes have been committed in thy name! All wars are wars among thieves who are too cowardly to fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/poor-human-nature-what-horrible-crimes-have-been-committed-in-thy/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [“Do not all theists insist that there can be no morality, no justice, honesty or fidelity without the belief in a Divine Power? Based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/do-not-all-theists-insist-that-there-can-be-no-morality-no-justice/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Lack of fairness to an opponent is essentially a sign of weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/lack-of-fairness-to-an-opponent-is-essentially-a-sign-of-weakness/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Do not all theists insist that there can be no morality, no justice, honesty or fidelity without the belief in a Divine Power? Based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/do-not-all-theists-insist-that-there-can-be-no-morality-no-justice-2/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Only when human sorrows are turned into a toy with glaring colors will baby people become interested - for a while at least. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/only-when-human-sorrows-are-turned-into-a-toy-with-glaring-colors/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [More pernicious than the power of a dictator is that of a class; the most terrible - the tyranny of a majority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/more-pernicious-than-the-power-of-a-dictator-is-that-of-a-class-the/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Love, the strongest and deepest element in all life, the harbinger of hope, of joy, of ecstasy; love, the definer of all laws, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/love-the-strongest-and-deepest-element-in-all-life-the-harbinger-of/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Whether our reformers admit it or not, the economic and social inferiority of women is responsible for prostitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/whether-our-reformers-admit-it-or-not-the-economic-and-social/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [The free expression of the hopes and aspirations of a people is the greatest and only safety in a sane society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-free-expression-of-the-hopes-and-aspirations-of-a-people-is-the/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Someone has said that it requires less mental effort to condemn than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/someone-has-said-that-it-requires-less-mental-effort-to-condemn-than/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [The persecution of the innovator and protestant has always been inspired by fear on the part of constituted authority of having its infallibility questioned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-persecution-of-the-innovator-and-protestant-has-always-been/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Order derived through submission and maintained by terror is not much of a safe guaranty; yet that is the only "order" that governments have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/order-derived-through-submission-and-maintained-by-terror-is-not-much/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Today is the parent of tomorrow. The present casts its shadow far into the future. That is the law of life, individual and social.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/today-is-the-parent-of-tomorrow-the-present-casts-its-shadow-far-into/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [Salvation lies in an energetic march onward towards a brighter and clearer future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/salvation-lies-in-an-energetic-march-onward-towards-a-brighter-and/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [The more hideous the mental contortions, the greater the delight and bravos of the mass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-more-hideous-the-mental-contortions-the-greater-the-delight-and/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) [Explore all 368 Emma Goldman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) ## More Freedom quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [We live in the greatest country in the world because of the veterans who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom and the security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/we-live-in-the-greatest-country-in-the-world-because-of-the-veterans/) [Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/) > [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/) > [“No one was more surprised than I to realize that my newfound freedom had been purchased by giving up on eternity and settling for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-jessop/no-one-was-more-surprised-than-i-to-realize-that-my-newfound-freedom/) [Carolyn Jessop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-jessop/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“In any case, white people, who had robbed black people of their liberty and who profited by this theft every hour that they lived,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/in-any-case-white-people-who-had-robbed-black-people-of-their-liberty/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“I have to blame myself for not finding any way of reaching him, but I can't feel that either Ruth or I had anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/i-have-to-blame-myself-for-not-finding-any-way-of-reaching-him-but-i/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [“It breaks my heart. Better than your words, your eye tells me all your peril. You are not yet free, you still search for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-breaks-my-heart-better-than-your-words-your-eye-tells-me-all-your/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [I don't want to be famous famous. I'm happy on the second tier, where I have autonomy on a professional level but I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-don-t-want-to-be-famous-famous-i-m-happy-on-the-second-tier-where-i/) [Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/) [Browse all 30,110 Freedom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I know how your visit and my strange behaviour must have affected you,\" he wrote. \" The sight of your face after all these years completely unnerved me. I could not think, I could not speak. It was as if all my dreams of freedom, the whole world of the living, were concentrated in the shiny little trinket that was dangling from your watch-chain. I couldn't take my eyes off it, I couldn't keep my hand from playing with it. It absorbed my whole being. 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