--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This obsessing heart which does not…" description: "\"“This obsessing heart which does not correspond To my language, nor to my customs, And on which encroach, like a clinging-root, Borrowed feelings and t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a7/jean-paul-sartre-220_africa_this-obsessing-heart-which-does-not-corr_2350530.png" --- # This obsessing heart which does not correspond To my… ![“This obsessing heart which does not correspond To my language, nor to my customs, And on which encroach, like a clinging-root, Borrowed feelings and the customs Of Europe, feel this suffering And this despair—equal to no other— Of ever taming with words from France This heart which came to me from…” quote by Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a7/jean-paul-sartre-220_africa_this-obsessing-heart-which-does-not-corr_2350530.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a7/jean-paul-sartre-220_africa_this-obsessing-heart-which-does-not-corr_2350530.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a7/jean-paul-sartre-220_africa_this-obsessing-heart-which-does-not-corr_2350530.png) > ““This obsessing heart which does not correspond To my language, nor to my customs, And on which encroach, like a clinging-root, Borrowed feelings and the customs Of Europe, feel this suffering And this despair—equal to no other— Of ever taming with words from France This heart which came to me from Sénegal. - Haitian poet”” [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker feels alienated because their heart adopts foreign customs and language, causing deep inner conflict and despair. **In simple terms:** Foreign influences cause inner conflict. Key Takeaway Recognize and reconcile cultural influences. Themes identity alienation culture language conflict Mood conflicted melancholic Type poetic reflective When to use this quote - immigrant experience - language learning - cultural adaptation - personal identity crisis Key Concepts cultural assimilation psychological distress Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance external influences with inner authenticity? - What aspects of your heritage feel most threatened by foreign customs? A Different Perspective Foreign customs may not align with personal values, leading to ongoing tension. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Africa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa/) [Blackness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blackness/) [Borrowed Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/borrowed-feelings-5721003/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Diaspora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diaspora/) [Estrangement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/estrangement/) [France Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/france-heart-1167676/) [Haiti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/haiti/) [Haitian Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/haitian-poet-5721002/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Obsessing Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsessing-heart-5721001/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Senegal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/senegal/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Words France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-france-5721004/) ## Related quotes > [I don't have any problem with coverage of victims in France. 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I kept her smile as long as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/she-smiled-first-i-lost-the-memory-of-her-eyes-then-the-memory-of-her/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [Life is a useless passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/life-is-a-useless-passion/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [The more one is absorbed in fighting evil, the less one is tempted to place the good in question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/the-more-one-is-absorbed-in-fighting-evil-the-less-one-is-tempted-to/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [This is what I thought: for the most banal even to become an adventure, you must (and this is enough) begin to recount it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/this-is-what-i-thought-for-the-most-banal-even-to-become-an-adventure/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [“I am free: there is absolutely no more reason for living, all the ones I have tried have given way and I can’t imagine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/i-am-free-there-is-absolutely-no-more-reason-for-living-all-the-ones/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [“If I am not mistaken, if all the signs which have been amassed are precursors of a new overthrow in my life, well then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/if-i-am-not-mistaken-if-all-the-signs-which-have-been-amassed-are/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [“I want to leave, go to some place where I will be really in my own niche, where I will fit in. . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/i-want-to-leave-go-to-some-place-where-i-will-be-really-in-my-own/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [...Uncalled-for aggression arouses the hatred of the civilian population...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/uncalled-for-aggression-arouses-the-hatred-of-the-civilian-population/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [The best work is not what is most difficult for you; it is what you do best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/the-best-work-is-not-what-is-most-difficult-for-you-it-is-what-you-do/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) [Explore all 728 Jean-Paul Sartre quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) ## More Africa quotes > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Africa, being the major target of colonial plunder, therefore becomes a major source of conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-horne/africa-being-the-major-target-of-colonial-plunder-therefore-becomes-a/) [Gerald Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-horne/) > [I'm in 'Madagascar 2.' 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