--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Twice in her life she had mistaken…" description: "\"Twice in her life she had mistaken something else for it; it was like seeing somebody in the street who you think is a friend, you whistle and wave and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/nancy-mitford-7161_accidents_twice-in-her-life-she-had-mistaken-somet_1538600.jpg" --- # Twice in her life she had mistaken something else for it… ![“Twice in her life she had mistaken something else for it; it was like seeing somebody in the street who you think is a friend, you whistle and wave and run after him, and it is not only not the friend, but not even very like him. A few minutes later the real friend appears in view, and then you…” quote by Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/nancy-mitford-7161_accidents_twice-in-her-life-she-had-mistaken-somet_1538600.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/nancy-mitford-7161_accidents_twice-in-her-life-she-had-mistaken-somet_1538600.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/nancy-mitford-7161_accidents_twice-in-her-life-she-had-mistaken-somet_1538600.jpg) > “Twice in her life she had mistaken something else for it; it was like seeing somebody in the street who you think is a friend, you whistle and wave and run after him, and it is not only not the friend, but not even very like him. A few minutes later the real friend appears in view, and then you can't imagine how you ever mistook that other person for him. Linda was now looking upon the authentic face of love, and she knew it, but it frightened her. That it should come so casually, so much by a series of accidents, was frightening.” [Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mistaking strangers for loved ones highlights how love can appear suddenly and unexpectedly, often through chance encounters. **In simple terms:** Love can appear unexpectedly through chance. Key Takeaway Stay open to love’s surprising moments. Themes love mistake chance recognition Mood confusion curiosity reflective Type literary emotional When to use this quote - social gatherings - online dating - first meetings - personal reflection Key Concepts psychology relationships perception Questions to Reflect On - What does this reveal about how we recognize love? - How can we differentiate genuine feelings from projections? A Different Perspective Mistakes can cause fear and doubt about genuine connection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accidents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidents/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Frightening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frightening/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Real friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-friend/) [Real friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-friends/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“She was filled with a strange, wild, unfamiliar happiness, and knew that this was love. Twice in her life she had mistaken something else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/she-was-filled-with-a-strange-wild-unfamiliar-happiness-and-knew-that/) [Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) > [A true friend will appears like a star which is gonna light up your life when everything seems dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-true-friend-will-appears-like-a-star-which-is-gonna-light-up-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He wished he could communicate what he knew to this frightened boy. But that never did any good anyway. People learned by what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-ryan-hyde/he-wished-he-could-communicate-what-he-knew-to-this-frightened-boy/) [Catherine Ryan Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-ryan-hyde/) > [ I think I knew how frightened people were \[when Donald Trump was elected\], and I think I knew that people were worried about their… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/i-think-i-knew-how-frightened-people-were-when-donald-trump-was/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [A simple friend thinks the friendship is over when you have an argument. A real friend knows that its not a friendship until after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bilal/a-simple-friend-thinks-the-friendship-is-over-when-you-have-an-2/) [Bilal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bilal/) > [Yes, there is no doubt that paper is patient and as I don't intend to show this cardboard-covered notebook, bearing the proud name of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/yes-there-is-no-doubt-that-paper-is-patient-and-as-i-don-t-intend-to/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [Real friends are always there 4 you there always pick you up when ur down they always help you in ur problems but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britany-rodriguez/real-friends-are-always-there-4-you-there-always-pick-you-up-when-ur/) Britany Rodriguez > [But when you know that you've got a real friend somewhere, suddenly all the others are so much easier to bear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-browne/but-when-you-know-that-you-ve-got-a-real-friend-somewhere-suddenly/) [Jackson Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-browne/) > [I have this great test to see if a girl's a real friend. When we're shopping I'll pick out an outfit that I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paris-hilton/i-have-this-great-test-to-see-if-a-girl-s-a-real-friend-when-we-re/) [Paris Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paris-hilton/) > [A real friendship is a light thing. A real friend holds you loosely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rivers-siddons/a-real-friendship-is-a-light-thing-a-real-friend-holds-you-loosely/) [Anne Rivers Siddons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rivers-siddons/) > [The real friend is another self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-real-friend-is-another-self/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [There was Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, an aloof superstar who had everything and needed no one. And Michael Jackson, the shy kid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/there-was-michael-jackson-the-king-of-pop-an-aloof-superstar-who-had/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [When you get into trouble, you find out who your real friends are.. They may not be the ones that you speak to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nic-skerry/when-you-get-into-trouble-you-find-out-who-your-real-friends-are-they/) Nic Skerry > [For me one of the most important things is not feeling like you have to protect yourself if you're with a real friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-stead/for-me-one-of-the-most-important-things-is-not-feeling-like-you-have/) [Rebecca Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-stead/) > [A real friend ... exults in his friend’s happiness, rejoices in all his joys, and is ready to afford him the best advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/a-real-friend-exults-in-his-friend-s-happiness-rejoices-in-all-his/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) ## More by Nancy Mitford > [“My dear Lady Kroesig, I have only read one book in my life, and that is ‘White Fang.’ It’s so frightfully good I’ve never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/my-dear-lady-kroesig-i-have-only-read-one-book-in-my-life-and-that-is/) [Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) > [Children should be like waffles--you should be able to throw the first one away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/children-should-be-like-waffles-you-should-be-able-to-throw-the-first/) [Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) > [Do you always laugh when you make love?' said Fabrice. I hadn't thought about it, but I suppose I do. I generally laugh when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/do-you-always-laugh-when-you-make-love-said-fabrice-i-hadn-t-thought/) [Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) > [“Linda's presentation of the 'facts' had been so gruesome that the children left Alconleigh howling dismally, their nerves permanently impaired, their future chances of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/linda-s-presentation-of-the-facts-had-been-so-gruesome-that-the/) [Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) > [The trouble is that people seem to expect happiness in life. I can't imagine why; but they do. 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Sophia was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/women-are-divided-into-two-categories-those-who-can-deal-with-the-men/) [Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) > [When the loo paper gets thicker and the writing paper thinner, it's always a bad sign, at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/when-the-loo-paper-gets-thicker-and-the-writing-paper-thinner-it-s/) [Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) > [There are worse things than poverty, though I can't for the moment remember what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/there-are-worse-things-than-poverty-though-i-can-t-for-the-moment/) [Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) > [One thing about tourists is that it is very easy to get away from them. 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I think you should impress this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/what-is-so-nice-so-unexpected-about-life-is-the-way-it-improves-as-it/) [Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) > [In France that is the one rule, never make trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/in-france-that-is-the-one-rule-never-make-trouble/) [Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) > [The English lord marries for love, and is rather inclined to love where money is; he rarely marries in order to improve his coat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/the-english-lord-marries-for-love-and-is-rather-inclined-to-love/) [Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) [Explore all 94 Nancy Mitford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) ## More Accidents quotes > [Almost all accidents take place because of human distraction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/almost-all-accidents-take-place-because-of-human-distraction/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. It was the Lord speaking to us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/it-was-no-accident-no-coincidence-that-the-seasons-came-round-and/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [No, I think most astronauts recognize that the space shuttle program is very high-risk, and are prepared for accidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-ride/no-i-think-most-astronauts-recognize-that-the-space-shuttle-program/) [Sally Ride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-ride/) > [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/) [John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/) > [The only way to have a funeral is to invite everyone who ever knew the person and just wait for the accident to happen-somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/the-only-way-to-have-a-funeral-is-to-invite-everyone-who-ever-knew/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [Good films are not made by accident, nor is good photography. You can have good things happen, on occasion, by accident that can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-willis/good-films-are-not-made-by-accident-nor-is-good-photography-you-can/) [Gordon Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-willis/) > [By education I am an Englishman, by views an internationalist, by culture a Muslim and a Hindu only by accident of birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/by-education-i-am-an-englishman-by-views-an-internationalist-by/) [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) > [I made out with a homeless guy by accident. I had no idea -- he was really tan, he had no shoes on. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-schumer/i-made-out-with-a-homeless-guy-by-accident-i-had-no-idea-he-was/) [Amy Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-schumer/) > [Naturally I feel no shame in writing these things because of the time which separates the moment when they are written--when only I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-ernaux/naturally-i-feel-no-shame-in-writing-these-things-because-of-the-time/) [Annie Ernaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-ernaux/) > [In a city where you walk around, it's impossible to plan your day and your life as accidents will happen, you'll overhear things, bump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-schwartzman/in-a-city-where-you-walk-around-it-s-impossible-to-plan-your-day-and/) [Jason Schwartzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-schwartzman/) > [I don't think it's by accident that I was first attracted to translating two French women poets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-hacker/i-don-t-think-it-s-by-accident-that-i-was-first-attracted-to/) [Marilyn Hacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-hacker/) > [Despite my mentors advice that I would never go to heaven fishing with a weighted nymph and a float, I took it up. 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