Madame Appeline Quote by Frances Hardinge
““I know how it is," Madame Appeline said, narrowing her slanting eyes slightly over her ice-cream smile. "There is a feeling deep down inside you, isn’t there? All the time. It bothers you. You don’t really know what it is, or how to describe it. You do not have a Face for it. And so you scan all the Face catalogues, and ask for Faces for every birthday because perhaps, just perhaps, if you had the right Face, you might understand what you are feeling. You need to find that Face." She leaned forward slightly. "Do go and look at our exhibition rooms, Miss Childersin.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Lost Conspiracy by Frances Hardinge, 2023
The narrator seeks a concrete identity for an elusive feeling, hoping a visual cue will clarify emotions.
In simple terms: We look for labels to understand feelings.
Key Takeaway
Seek self‑knowledge through introspection.
Themes
identity
emotion
search
self‑discovery
Mood
introspective
curious
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- therapy sessions
- creative writing
- art therapy
- personal journaling
Key Concepts
psychology
symbolism
language
Questions to Reflect On
- What feeling do you struggle to name?
- How might you explore emotions without visual symbols?
A Different Perspective
Labels may oversimplify complex emotions.
