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Leather shoes Quote by Jean-Paul Sartre

“This is a plot: I hope he will keep quiet while he looks at them. I dive under the table and push the chest against his patent leather shoes, I put an armload of post cards and photos on his lap: Spain and Spanish Morocco. But I see by his laughing, open look that I have been singularly mistaken…” quote by Jean-Paul Sartre
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““This is a plot: I hope he will keep quiet while he looks at them. I dive under the table and push the chest against his patent leather shoes, I put an armload of post cards and photos on his lap: Spain and Spanish Morocco. But I see by his laughing, open look that I have been singularly mistaken in hoping to reduce him to silence. He glances over a view of San Sebastian from Monte Igueldo, sets it cautiously on the table and remains silent for an instant. Then he sighs: 'Ah, Monsieur, you're lucky ... if what they say is true-travel is the best school. Is that your opinion, Monsieur?' I make a vague gesture. Luckily he has not finished. 'It must be such an upheaval. If I were ever to go on a trip, I think I should make written notes of the slightest traits of my character before leaving, so that when I returned I would be able to compare what I was and what I had become. I've read that there are travellers who have changed physically and morally to such an extent that even their closest relatives did not recognize them when they came back.””

Jean-Paul Sartre

About This Quote

Source Novel: Nausea, 1938 (excerpt)?? Actually a fictional dialogue, possibly from "The Flies" or "The Imaginary Commute"

Travel forces self‑reflection, revealing how experiences reshape identity.

In simple terms: Travel changes who you become.

Key Takeaway

Observe personal growth through journeys.

Themes

travel identity self‑discovery

Mood

reflective thoughtful

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • vacations
  • expatriate life
  • study abroad
  • career relocation

Key Concepts

existentialism personal evolution

Questions to Reflect On

  • What aspects of yourself have changed after travel?
  • How do you measure personal growth?
A Different Perspective

Travel can be superficial without deeper introspection.

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