Psychoanalysis Quote by Marcel Proust
““Even the simple act which we describe as 'seeing someone we know' is, to some extent, an intellectual process. We pack the physical outline of the creature we see with all the ideas we already formed about him, and in the complete picture of him which we compose in our minds those ideas have certainly the principal place. In the end they come to fill out so completely the curve of his cheeks, to follow so exactly the line of his nose, they blend so harmoniously in the sound of his voice that these seem to be no more than a transparent envelope, so that each time we see the face or hear the voice it is our own ideas of him which we recognize and to which we listen.””
About This Quote
Perception of others is filtered through preexisting ideas, shaping how we recognize and listen to them.
In simple terms: We see others through our mental lenses.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions when judging people.
Themes
perception
identity
cognition
Mood
analytical
introspective
Type
philosophical
psychological
When to use this quote
- interpersonal communication
- mindfulness
- education
Key Concepts
schema theory
social cognition
Questions to Reflect On
- How do your ideas shape your view of others?
- What steps can you take to see people more clearly?
A Different Perspective
Bias can distort true understanding.
![“For her [Françoise], wealth was like a necessary condition without which virtue would lack both merit and charm. She made so little distinction between the two that she came to see their qualities as interchangeable, expecting material comfort from virtue and moral edification from wealth.” quote by Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/573/marcel-proust-114_character_for-her-fran-oise-wealth-was-like-a-nece_2687.jpg)
