Day to day Quote by Jamaica Kincaid
““You are not an ugly person all the time; you are not an ugly person ordinarily; you are not an ugly person day to day. From day to day, you are a nice person. From day to day, all the people who are supposed to love you on the whole do. From day to day, as you walk down a busy street in the large and modern and prosperous city in which you work and lie, dismayed and puzzled at how alone you can feel in this crowd, how awful it is to go unnoticed, how awful it is to go unloved, even as you are surrounded by more people than you could possibly get to know in a lifetime that lasted for millennia and then out of the corner of your eye you see someone looking at you and absolute pleasure is written all over the person's face, and then you realize that you are not as revolting a presence as you think you are. And so, ordinarily, you are a nice person, an attractive person, a person capable of drawing to yourself the affection of other people, a person at home in your own skin: a person at home in your own house, with its nice backyard, at home on your street, your church, in community activities, your job, at home with your family, your relatives, your friends - you are a whole person.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Lucy, Jamaica Kincaid, 1990
The passage reassures that despite occasional feelings of ugliness or isolation, one is fundamentally kind, attractive, and connected to community and loved ones.
In simple terms: You are mostly a good, likable person despite occasional self‑doubt.
Key Takeaway
Recognize your inherent worth and seek connection.
Themes
self‑esteem
community
identity
belonging
Mood
reflective
hopeful
Type
affirmational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- daily interactions
- social gatherings
- family gatherings
- workplace environments
- public spaces
Key Concepts
self‑perception
social connection
human dignity
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you nurture self‑acceptance daily?
- What small actions reinforce your sense of belonging?
A Different Perspective
Self‑doubt can persist even with external affirmation.
