--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They looked shallow, self-absorbed. And a…" description: "\"“They looked shallow, self-absorbed. And a small, strangled part of me envied them.”\" — Mary E. Pearson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/mary-e-pearson-2812_self-absorbed_they-looked-shallow-self-absorbed-and-a_2573448.png" --- # They looked shallow, self-absorbed. And a small, strangled… ![“They looked shallow, self-absorbed. And a small, strangled part of me envied them.” quote by Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/mary-e-pearson-2812_self-absorbed_they-looked-shallow-self-absorbed-and-a_2573448.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/mary-e-pearson-2812_self-absorbed_they-looked-shallow-self-absorbed-and-a_2573448.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54a/mary-e-pearson-2812_self-absorbed_they-looked-shallow-self-absorbed-and-a_2573448.png) > ““They looked shallow, self-absorbed. And a small, strangled part of me envied them.”” [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Observes shallow, self‑absorbed people and admits a secret envy of their simplicity. **In simple terms:** She envies their simple self‑absorption. Key Takeaway Recognize envy and reflect on values. Themes self‑awareness envy social observation authenticity Mood reflective thoughtful Type analytical introspective When to use this quote - personal growth - relationship dynamics - career choices Key Concepts envy of simplicity self‑reflection social critique Questions to Reflect On - What draws you to envy? - How can you cultivate authentic fulfillment? A Different Perspective Envy can hinder self‑acceptance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Self absorbed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-absorbed/) ## Related quotes > [“Everything you do or say interests me." "Really," she said skeptically. "What about Lord Westcliff's claim that I'm shallow and self-absorbed?" 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Everybody that I meet in the industry is so kind, giving, and they are some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-johnson/people-think-pageant-girls-are-snotty-cutthroat-self-absorbed/) [Nicole Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-johnson/) > [“The point is not that my life is one long golden summer which I am simply too self-absorbed to appreciate (although it might be,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/the-point-is-not-that-my-life-is-one-long-golden-summer-which-i-am/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [Before I had my babies, I would tend to be self-absorbed, and worry about little things, but now I am a changed person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farah-khan/before-i-had-my-babies-i-would-tend-to-be-self-absorbed-and-worry/) [Farah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farah-khan/) > [My iPhone suggests GPS when I'm trying to write GOD. I think we are finally synced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-iphone-suggests-gps-when-i-m-trying-to-write-god-i-think-we-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [American's could be any more self absorbed if they were made of equal parts water and paper towel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-miller/american-s-could-be-any-more-self-absorbed-if-they-were-made-of-equal/) [Dennis Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-miller/) > [Jodi Melnick is hotly self-absorbed. Her onstage musicians are much too loud, and like so many narcissistic performers, she goes on much too long:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gottlieb/jodi-melnick-is-hotly-self-absorbed-her-onstage-musicians-are-much/) [Robert Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gottlieb/) > [Now, do I think the baby boomers tend to be self-absorbed? I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/now-do-i-think-the-baby-boomers-tend-to-be-self-absorbed-i-do/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [The media tries to destroy Republicans who make little faux pas and they start telling everybody how dumb and stupid or uncaring they are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-media-tries-to-destroy-republicans-who-make-little-faux-pas-and/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [“You can be bit in the leg by a rattlesnake and seek help to heal your wound, or you can run after it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/you-can-be-bit-in-the-leg-by-a-rattlesnake-and-seek-help-to-heal-your/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) ## More by Mary E. Pearson > [“Once upon a time, there was a man as great as the gods… But even the great can tremble with fear. Even the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-man-as-great-as-the-gods-but-even-the/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [“abuelita speaks no english. she doesn't need to, zoe thinks. her smile fills and communicates so much more than the empty, half-said words of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/abuelita-speaks-no-english-she-doesn-t-need-to-zoe-thinks-her-smile/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [... Change doesn't happen overnight-it's molded by people who don't give up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/change-doesn-t-happen-overnight-it-s-molded-by-people-who-don-t-give/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [There are all kinds of friends you make in life... But there's something different about someone who spreads their wings with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/there-are-all-kinds-of-friends-you-make-in-life-but-there-s-something/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [“I shan't make a fuss over the babe's father.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/i-shan-t-make-a-fuss-over-the-babe-s-father/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [“Multiple closets for different needs. Overkill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/multiple-closets-for-different-needs-overkill/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [“It is good to have many strengths, Natiya...Do not sacrifice one kind of strength for another”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/it-is-good-to-have-many-strengths-natiya-do-not-sacrifice-one-kind-of/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [“Somewhere beyond all that, on an unseeable horizon, was Morrighan and all the people who lived there, going about their lives, unaware. My brothers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/somewhere-beyond-all-that-on-an-unseeable-horizon-was-morrighan-and/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [“I play the if game too, Tavish. It´s practically a hobby of mine, but I´ve found it´s a game of endless possibilities with no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/i-play-the-if-game-too-tavish-it-s-practically-a-hobby-of-mine-but-i/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [“He leaned back, the misery in his eyes cutting through me. "But they're only wishes Lia, because you've made promises and so have I.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/he-leaned-back-the-misery-in-his-eyes-cutting-through-me-but-they-re/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [Father says it will come in time. “Time heals,” he says. I don’t tell him that I don’t know what time is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/father-says-it-will-come-in-time-time-heals-he-says-i-don-t-tell-him/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [There is something about her eyes. Eyes don't breathe. I know that much. But hers look breathless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/there-is-something-about-her-eyes-eyes-don-t-breathe-i-know-that-much/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [But remember, child, we may all have our own story and destiny, and sometimes our seemingly bad fortune, but we're all part of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/but-remember-child-we-may-all-have-our-own-story-and-destiny-and/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [But I am more than a name. More than they tell me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/but-i-am-more-than-a-name-more-than-they-tell-me/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [“I looked at her, unsure how to answer. Even after everything Mikael had done, every day I had to let go again. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/i-looked-at-her-unsure-how-to-answer-even-after-everything-mikael-had/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) [Explore all 148 Mary E. Pearson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) ## More Self absorbed quotes > [“You can be bit in the leg by a rattlesnake and seek help to heal your wound, or you can run after it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/you-can-be-bit-in-the-leg-by-a-rattlesnake-and-seek-help-to-heal-your/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [The media tries to destroy Republicans who make little faux pas and they start telling everybody how dumb and stupid or uncaring they are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-media-tries-to-destroy-republicans-who-make-little-faux-pas-and/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Now, do I think the baby boomers tend to be self-absorbed? I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/now-do-i-think-the-baby-boomers-tend-to-be-self-absorbed-i-do/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Jodi Melnick is hotly self-absorbed. Her onstage musicians are much too loud, and like so many narcissistic performers, she goes on much too long:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gottlieb/jodi-melnick-is-hotly-self-absorbed-her-onstage-musicians-are-much/) [Robert Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gottlieb/) > [American's could be any more self absorbed if they were made of equal parts water and paper towel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-miller/american-s-could-be-any-more-self-absorbed-if-they-were-made-of-equal/) [Dennis Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-miller/) > [My iPhone suggests GPS when I'm trying to write GOD. I think we are finally synced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-iphone-suggests-gps-when-i-m-trying-to-write-god-i-think-we-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Before I had my babies, I would tend to be self-absorbed, and worry about little things, but now I am a changed person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farah-khan/before-i-had-my-babies-i-would-tend-to-be-self-absorbed-and-worry/) [Farah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farah-khan/) > [“The point is not that my life is one long golden summer which I am simply too self-absorbed to appreciate (although it might be,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/the-point-is-not-that-my-life-is-one-long-golden-summer-which-i-am/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [People think pageant girls are snotty, cutthroat, self-absorbed. Everybody that I meet in the industry is so kind, giving, and they are some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-johnson/people-think-pageant-girls-are-snotty-cutthroat-self-absorbed/) [Nicole Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-johnson/) > [I'm always made a little uncomfortable by studies that assert that Millennials are the most narcissistic generation in history. To me, being young has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-marantz-henig/i-m-always-made-a-little-uncomfortable-by-studies-that-assert-that/) [Robin Marantz Henig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-marantz-henig/) > [“Relax; the world's not watching that closely. It's too busy contemplating itself in the mirror.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/relax-the-world-s-not-watching-that-closely-it-s-too-busy/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“Unlike the rest of you, I cheerfully admit to my own utter selfishness. I am self-made, self-absorbed, self-serving, self-referential, even self-deprecating, in a charming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lashner/unlike-the-rest-of-you-i-cheerfully-admit-to-my-own-utter-selfishness/) [William Lashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lashner/) > [“You’re just…too high-maintenance. Too self-absorbed. And you talk too much—usually about things that don’t matter—and it drives me absolutely nuts. What it comes down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-blake/you-re-just-too-high-maintenance-too-self-absorbed-and-you-talk-too/) [Toni Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-blake/) > [ “\[About the main character approaching death in old age, observed by her husband . . .\] He saw that she had already laid down… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-d-o-brien/about-the-main-character-approaching-death-in-old-age-observed-by-her/) [Michael D. 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