Runaways Quote by Evan Dara
““the figures are shadow-swept, various, self-involved, and as turbulent as waves, as standing waves ...; and as I look at them, as I curl more tightly into shin-warmth on my preferred bench, I wonder which of these figures, too, are runaways, which of these scudding clumps are the moving forms of runaways ...but runaways whom I don't recognize, whose rightfulness I don't acknowledge: which of these figures am I denying ...; because it would take, I am sure, only a glance, only one shared eye-shudder, for all this to end, for their circumstances suddenly to reverse; it would only take one glance upon them...and one glance from them...; this, then, would be interpenetration, genuine interpenetration, a real refutation of figure and ground...;””
About This Quote
The passage explores the yearning for deep connection, suggesting that a single shared glance could dissolve the barrier between self and other, achieving true interpenetration.
In simple terms: A single shared look can erase distance.
Key Takeaway
Intimacy emerges from mutual recognition.
Themes
connection
perception
existence
artistic metaphor
Mood
poetic
melancholic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- art critique
- psychotherapy
- intimate conversations
- performance art
Key Concepts
subject‑object relation
phenomenology
Practical Applications
- Cultivate eye contact in dialogue
- Use reflective listening to acknowledge others' presence
Questions to Reflect On
- What does 'interpenetration' mean to you?
- Can brief encounters truly transform perception?
A Different Perspective
Idealizes instant connection, ignoring the work needed for sustained relational depth.
![“[L]et them be their own Rorschach tests[.]” quote by Evan Dara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/210/evan-dara-17684_rorschach_l-et-them-be-their-own-rorschach-tests-1_116219.jpg)
