---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Cotrim, who was present, said: “Those…"
description: "\"“Cotrim, who was present, said: “Those came who had a genuine interest in you and in us. The eighty would have come only as a formality, would have tal..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ea/machado-de-assis-3758_real-estate_cotrim-who-was-present-said-those-came-w_40316.jpg"
---

#  Cotrim, who was present, said: “Those came who had a…

![“Cotrim, who was present, said: “Those came who had a genuine interest in you and in us. The eighty would have come only as a formality, would have talked about the inertia of the government, about patent medicines, about the price of real estate, or about each other…” Damasceno listened in…” quote by Machado de Assis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ea/machado-de-assis-3758_real-estate_cotrim-who-was-present-said-those-came-w_40316.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ea/machado-de-assis-3758_real-estate_cotrim-who-was-present-said-those-came-w_40316.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ea/machado-de-assis-3758_real-estate_cotrim-who-was-present-said-those-came-w_40316.jpg)

> ““Cotrim, who was present, said: “Those came who had a genuine interest in you and in us. The eighty would have come only as a formality, would have talked about the inertia of the government, about patent medicines, about the price of real estate, or about each other…” Damasceno listened in silence, shook his head again, and sighed: “But they should have at least come.””

[Machado de Assis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/machado-de-assis/)

## 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 laments that attendees lacked genuine engagement, attending only for formalities and superficial topics, highlighting a disconnect between appearance and authentic interest.

**In simple terms:** Superficial attendance versus authentic interest

Key Takeaway

True engagement matters more than mere presence

Themes

authenticity social dynamics formalities communication expectations

Mood

reflective critical

Type

observation dialogue

When to use this quote

- professional meetings
- political gatherings
- academic conferences
- community events

Key Concepts

genuine interest social performance disappointment

Practical Applications

- improving meeting relevance
- encouraging authentic participation

Questions to Reflect On

- What drives people to attend only for formality?
- How can we foster genuine interest in group settings?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Real estate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-estate/)

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