Breathing Quote by John Berger
“A cigarette is a breathing space. It makes a parenthesis. The time of a cigarette is a parenthesis, and if it is shared, you are both in that parenthesis. It's like a proscenium arch for a dialogue.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Ways of Seeing by John Berger, 1972
Cigarettes create a brief pause that frames conversation, like a stage opening for dialogue.
In simple terms: Smoking offers a pause that frames talk.
Key Takeaway
Use pauses to deepen dialogue.
Themes
communication
ritual
pause
Mood
contemplative
introspective
Type
observational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- coffee break
- smoking area
- meeting interlude
- creative brainstorming
Key Concepts
social interaction
shared moments
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you create a pause without smoking?
- What other rituals foster dialogue?
A Different Perspective
Health risks undermine the benefit of the pause.
![“There's the artist's intimacy and truthfulness to himself, but an equal intimacy to the Other [the one drawn]. Picasso drawings are like that... the Rembrandts are like that. The artist who most often did that was Van Gogh.” quote by John Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0d1/john-berger-1590_art_there-s-the-artist-s-intimacy-and-truthf_155171.jpg)
