Exist Quote by George Mikes
““While — say — the butcher serves a lady who is shopping for five days for her family of fourteen, you must not take advantage of a momentary pause (as you would in France) to butt in and ask if he has any calf’s liver — not because you want to be served out of turn, of course, just to find out whether it is worth waiting. You will get no reply. This is not discourtesy: it is simply due to the fact that you do not exist. You may not be aware of this; you may live in the mistaken belief that you do exist, but you do not. Before your turn comes you are less than a dog. A dog would be noticed and urged to leave the shop. But you definitely do not exist before your turn comes, you are a non-person, you are thin air, a nonentity, a body non-incarnate, waiting to be materialised when the butcher turns his smiling attention to you.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Book of the British, 1937
The passage sat that individuals are invisible and ignored until they are directly addressed, highlighting social invisibility and the need for recognition.
In simple terms: People are unnoticed until they are spoken to.
Key Takeaway
Seek acknowledgment before assuming invisibility.
Themes
social invisibility
recognition
power dynamics
Mood
reflective
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
social commentary
When to use this quote
- waiting in line
- customer service
- public spaces
- social interactions
Key Concepts
existentialism
social hierarchy
Questions to Reflect On
- How does being unseen affect self-worth?
- What actions can make the invisible visible?
A Different Perspective
Even when noticed, the person may still be marginalized.
![“If ever a girl was [worth waiting], Val, it'd be you, but I can't promise that. You have no idea what my life is like. There are always too many beautiful and willing women. There's too much temptation. Too much expectation. If I wasn't getting it from you I'd probably stray. I know how that…” quote by Kelly Oram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/faf/kelly-oram-4058_life_if-ever-a-girl-was-worth-waiting-val-it_372624.jpg)
