Stares Quote by Erving Goffman
““The act of staring is a thing which one does not ordinarily do to another human being; it seems to put the object stared at in a class apart. One does not talk to a monkey in a zoo, or to a freak in a sideshow— one only stares.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Stigma by Erving Goffman, 1963
Staring creates a social distance, treating the observed as a spectacle rather than an equal person.
In simple terms: Staring makes people feel like objects.
Key Takeaway
Avoid objectifying others.
Themes
social distance
objectification
human dignity
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
observational
analytical
When to use this quote
- public speaking
- museum visits
- online video calls
- first impressions
Key Concepts
sociology
social interaction
power dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your gaze affect how others see you?
- When is it appropriate to observe without judging?
A Different Perspective
Staring can be misinterpreted as aggression.
![“[A]s I stepped over the curb, I became excruciatingly aware of my skin color, and my heart pounded with social anxiety. In going around a single block, I got stares. Mine was the only white face around, and for five minutes, five blocks from my home, I was a stranger in a strange land. . . .” quote by Jared Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3cb/jared-taylor-14340_anxiety_a-s-i-stepped-over-the-curb-i-became-exc_233219.jpg)
