Behaving Quote by Lydia Davis
““In those days I did a lot of avoiding that I don’t do now — avoiding confrontations, avoiding difficult encounters. And I did a fair amount of lying that I also don’t do now.' 'What was strange was how awful this felt. I was treating a person like a thing. And I was betraying not just him but something larger, some social contract. When you knew a decent person was waiting downstairs, someone you had made an appointment with, you did not just not answer the buzzer. What was even more surprising to me was what I felt about myself in that instant. I was behaving as though I had no responsibility to anyone or anything, and that made me feel as though I existed outside society, some kind of criminal, or didn’t exist at all. I was annihilating myself even more than him. It was an awful violation.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Art of Lying” in The New Yorker, 2018
The passage reflects on personal moral decline when avoiding conflict and lying, feeling alienated from society and self, recognizing a breach of social responsibility and personal integrity.
In simple terms: Avoiding truth leads to self‑alienation and loss of responsibility.
Key Takeaway
Confront conflicts honestly and uphold commitments.
Themes
ethics
personal responsibility
social contract
Mood
reflective
somber
Type
philosophical
confessional
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- professional settings
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
psychology
self‑identity
Questions to Reflect On
- What responsibilities do we owe to others in daily interactions?
- How can we repair trust after deception?
A Different Perspective
The narrative is introspective; may not apply universally.
![“I worked more intensively hour after hour when I was starting out [writing]. More laboriously. I'd say quantity is important as well as quality, and if you're not producing enough, make a schedule and stick to it.” quote by Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/29b/lydia-davis-3244_after-hours_i-worked-more-intensively-hour-after-hou_171566.jpg)
