Arrogance Quote by Marcel Proust
““Their arrogance protected them against any liking for their fellow-man, against the slightest interest in the strangers sitting all about them, amidst whom M. de Stermaria adopted the manner one has in the buffet-car of a train, grim, hurried, stand-offish, brusque, fastidious and spiteful, surrounded by other passengers whom one has never seen before, whom one will never see again and towards whom the only conceivable way of behaving is to make sure that they keep away from one's cold chicken and stay out of one's chosen corner-seat.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: In Search of Lost Time, Volume 1, 1913
People isolate themselves socially, treating strangers as threats to their personal space and comfort.
In simple terms: People keep strangers at a distance.
Key Takeaway
Respect others’ space and be open to connection.
Themes
isolation
social distance
elitism
Mood
detached
critical
Type
observational
literary
When to use this quote
- public transport
- waiting rooms
- conference networking
- social events
Key Concepts
psychology
human behavior
social anxiety
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do you keep others at arm’s length?
- How might openness improve your experience?
A Different Perspective
Such behavior can stem from fear or past trauma, not just arrogance.
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