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Appearance Quote by Marcel Proust

“When the mind has a tendency to dream, it is a mistake to keep dreams away from it, to ration its dreams. So long as you distract your mind from its dreams, it will not know them for what they are; you will always be being taken in by the appearance of things, because you will not have grasped…” quote by Marcel Proust
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“When the mind has a tendency to dream, it is a mistake to keep dreams away from it, to ration its dreams. So long as you distract your mind from its dreams, it will not know them for what they are; you will always be being taken in by the appearance of things, because you will not have grasped their true nature. If a little dreaming is dangerous, the cure for it is not to dream less but to dream more, to dream all the time. One must have a thorough understanding of one”

Marcel Proust

About This Quote

Source Book: In Search of Lost Time, Volume 1, 1913

Dreams reveal deeper truths; suppressing them blinds us to reality, while embracing them uncovers true nature.

In simple terms: Dreams show truth; ignore them and miss reality.

Key Takeaway

Embrace and explore your dreams.

Themes

self‑knowledge perception truth

Mood

introspective curious

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • creative work
  • personal reflection
  • problem solving
  • spiritual practice

Key Concepts

psychology philosophy consciousness

Questions to Reflect On

  • What truths might you be missing by ignoring your dreams?
  • How can you integrate dream insights into daily life?
A Different Perspective

Dreams can become escapist if not balanced with action.

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