Attention Quote by Marcel Proust
“I cannot express the uneasiness caused in me by this intrusion of mystery and beauty into a room I had at last filled with myself to the point of paying no more attention to the room than to that self. The anesthetizing influence of habit having ceased, I would begin to have thoughts, and feelings, and they are such sad things.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust, 1913-1927
The intrusion of mystery and beauty disrupts habitual self‑absorption, exposing deeper, often sad emotions.
In simple terms: Unexpected beauty unsettles routine, revealing hidden feelings.
Embrace disruption to discover deeper emotions.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- art appreciation
- personal reflection
- creative writing
- therapy
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does novelty reveal hidden emotions?
- What habits shield you from self‑awareness?
Habit may mask true feelings, making disruption uncomfortable.