Beauty Quote by Marilynne Robinson
““In every important way we are such secrets from one another, and I do believe that there is a separate language in each of us, also a separate aesthetics and a separate jurisprudence. Every single one of us is a little civilization built on the ruins of any number of preceding civilizations, but with our own variant notions of what is beautiful and what is acceptable - which, I hasten to add, we generally do not satisfy and by which we struggle to live. We take fortuitous resemblances among us to be actual likeness, because those around us have also fallen heir to the same customs, trade in the same coin, acknowledge, more or less, the same notions of decency and sanity. But all that really just allows us to coexist with the inviolable, intraversable, and utterly vast spaces between us.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Book of Disquiet” by Fernando Pessoa, 1990
Humans are isolated individuals each with unique inner worlds and values, yet we cling to superficial similarities to feel connected, ignoring the profound gaps between us.
In simple terms: People are fundamentally different despite surface likenesses.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and respect deep personal differences.
Themes
identity
isolation
culture
communication
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- multicultural teams
- therapy sessions
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
existentialism
subjectivity
social constructivism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you bridge the gap between surface similarity and deep understanding?
- What personal " do you share with others?
A Different Perspective
Superficial similarities can mask deeper misunderstandings.
