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Cigarette Quote by Lauren Bacall

“If there was a pause in a conversation with anyone, you could always light a cigarette, or if a man lit a cigarette for you, you could look up. It's the most dramatic thing in the world because it's intimate, it's suggestive, and that's one of the problems with giving it up, is that it's a very…” quote by Lauren Bacall
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“If there was a pause in a conversation with anyone, you could always light a cigarette, or if a man lit a cigarette for you, you could look up. It's the most dramatic thing in the world because it's intimate, it's suggestive, and that's one of the problems with giving it up, is that it's a very useful tool.”

Lauren Bacall

About This Quote

Source Film: The Big Sleep, 1946

A cigarette serves as a social bridge, easing tension and creating intimacy in conversation.

In simple terms: Cigarettes help start and deepen talks.

Key Takeaway

Use small gestures to connect.

Themes

communication intimacy social cues

Mood

reflective intimate

Type

advice observational

When to use this quote

  • first dates
  • business meetings
  • interviews
  • conflict resolution

Key Concepts

social ritual psychology nonverbal signaling

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can you create intimacy without smoking?
  • What non‑smoking gestures work for you?
A Different Perspective

Reliance on smoking can be unhealthy and exclusionary.

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