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First time Quote by Muriel Barbery

“So here is my profound thought for the day: This is the first time I have met someone who seeks out people and who sees beyond. That may seem trivial but I think it is profound all the same. We never look beyond our assumptions and, what's worse, we have given up trying to meet others; we just…” quote by Muriel Barbery
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““So here is my profound thought for the day: This is the first time I have met someone who seeks out people and who sees beyond. That may seem trivial but I think it is profound all the same. We never look beyond our assumptions and, what's worse, we have given up trying to meet others; we just meet ourselves. We don't recognize each other because other people have become our permanent mirrors. If we actually realized this, if we were to become aware of the fact that we are only ever looking at ourselves in the other person, that we are alone in the wilderness, we would go crazy. When my mother offers macaroons from Chez Laduree to Madame de Broglie, she is telling herself her own life story and just nibbling at her own flavor; when Papa drinks his coffee and reads his paper, he is contemplating his own reflection in the mirror, as if practicing the Coue method or something; when Colombe talks about Marian's lectures, she is ranting about her own reflection; and when people walk by the concierge, all they see is a void, because she is not from their world. As for me, I implore fate to give me the chance to see beyond myself and truly meet someone.””

Muriel Barbery

About This Quote

Source Novel: The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery, 2006

We view others as mirrors of ourselves, never truly seeing beyond our own assumptions, limiting genuine connection.

In simple terms: We see ourselves in others, not them.

Key Takeaway

Seek to understand others beyond your own projections.

Themes

self‑awareness connection perception mirrors

Mood

reflective introspective

Type

philosophical literary

When to use this quote

  • personal relationships
  • therapy
  • mindfulness practice
  • conflict resolution

Key Concepts

psychology existentialism social cognition

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can you practice seeing others as they are?
  • What habits keep you from looking beyond yourself?
A Different Perspective

It can be unsettling to confront the emptiness of self‑centered perception.

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