Strange feeling Quote by Frances Hodgson Burnett
““It really was a very strange feeling she had about Emily. It arose from her being so desolate. She did not like to own to herself that her only friend, her only companion, could feel and hear nothing. She wanted to believe, or to pretend to believe, that Emily understood and sympathized with her, that she heard her even though she did not speak in answer.””
About This Quote
A person projects empathy onto an unresponsive companion, seeking validation of their own feelings through imagined understanding.
In simple terms: We imagine others understand us when they cannot.
Key Takeaway
Projection fills emotional voids.
Themes
projection
loneliness
empathy
imagined connection
Mood
sad
contemplative
Type
reflective
psychological
When to use this quote
- talking to a pet for comfort
- writing letters to a deceased relative
- confiding in a diary
Key Concepts
psychology of attachment
self‑validation
Practical Applications
- practice mindfulness to recognize projection
- cultivate real supportive relationships
Questions to Reflect On
- When does imagined understanding become a coping mechanism?
- How can one differentiate between projection and real empathy?
A Different Perspective
Reliance on imagined empathy may hinder seeking genuine support.
![“[Love Wasn’t as They Said] Love wasn’t as they said… It didn’t last forever as they claimed… It is fleeting moments only recognized By those with sight and insight… And perhaps only captured By those patiently waiting as if to see a lightning in the sky… And, like lightning perhaps, we never know…” quote by Louis Yako](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/239/louis-yako-20010_arabic-literature_love-wasn-t-as-they-said-love-wasn-t-as_85936.jpg)
