French Quote by Margaret Atwood
““An old walrus-faced waiter attended to me; he had the knack of pouring the coffee and the hot milk from two jugs, held high in the air, and I found this entrancing, as if he were a child's magician. One day he said to me - he had some English - "Why are you sad?" "I'm not sad," I said, and began to cry. Sympathy from strangers can be ruinous. "You should not be sad," he said, gazing at me with his melancholy, leathery walrus eyes. "It must be the love. But you are young and pretty, you will have time to be sad later." The French are connoisseurs of sadness, they know all the kinds. This is why they have bidets. "It is criminal, the love," he said, patting my shoulder. "But none is worse.””
About This Quote
Source Short story: “The Love of a Young Woman” by Margaret Atwood, 1995
A waiter uses gentle, almost magical empathy to soothe a young woman’s hidden sorrow, suggesting that love can be both a comfort and a burden.
In simple terms: A kind stranger tries to comfort a sad person, but love can be painful.
Key Takeaway
Recognize that sympathy may mask deeper issues.
Themes
empathy
love
sadness
culture
comfort
Mood
reflective
introspective
Type
narrative
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal crisis
- first love
- cultural observations
- seeking comfort
Key Concepts
psychology
social dynamics
French cultural attitudes
Questions to Reflect On
- What hidden feelings might you be overlooking?
- How does cultural view of sadness affect coping?
A Different Perspective
Sympathy can sometimes deepen pain rather than heal.
