Alarms Quote by Marcel Proust
“The fact of the matter is that, since we are determined always to keep our feelings to ourselves, we have never given any thought to the manner in which we should express them. And suddenly there is within us a strange and obscene animal making itself heard, whose tones may inspire as much alarm in the person who receives the involuntary, elliptical and almost irresistible communication of one's defect or vice as would the sudden avowal indirectly and outlandishly proffered by a criminal who can no longer refrain from confessing to a murder of which one had never imagined him to be guilty.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: In Search of Lost Time, 1913
People suppress emotions, leading to sudden, uncontrolled outbursts that reveal deeper flaws, often shocking both speaker and listener.
In simple terms: Suppressed feelings erupt unexpectedly, exposing hidden defects.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and express emotions before they explode.
Themes
self-awareness
communication
psychology
authenticity
Mood
reflective
introspective
Type
philosophical
psychological
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- public speaking
- conflict resolution
- mental health counseling
Key Concepts
repression
social masks
unconscious expression
Questions to Reflect On
- What emotions are you holding back?
- How might honest expression change a relationship?
A Different Perspective
Not all eruptions are harmful; they can prompt growth.
![“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)
