Deference Quote by Marcel Proust
““It appeared that the deference which, on my grandmother’s authority, we owed to Mme. de Villeparisis imposed on her the reciprocal obligation to do nothing that would render her less worthy of our regard, and that she had failed in her duty in becoming aware of Swann’s existence and in allowing members of her family to associate with him. “How should she know Swann? A lady who, you always made out, was related to Marshal Mac-Mahon!””
About This Quote
Source Novel: In Search of Lost Time, Volume 2, 1913
Social expectations force a woman to ignore a lover, showing how class and reputation dictate personal choices.
In simple terms: Society pressures dictate personal decisions.
Key Takeaway
Question societal expectations.
Themes
class
reputation
family duty
love
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- family gatherings
- social events
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
Social hierarchy
moral obligation
Questions to Reflect On
- Should personal happiness outweigh social duty?
- How do class expectations limit love?
A Different Perspective
Individual desire may clash with social duty.
![“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)
