Appointments Quote by Nathaniel Hawthorne
“At no time are people so sedulously careful to keep their trifling appointments, attend to their ordinary occupations, and thus put a commonplace aspect on life, as when conscious of some secret that if suspected would make them look monstrous in the general eye.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1850
People hide their true selves behind mundane routines to avoid social judgment, fearing they would appear monstrous if their secrets were known.
In simple terms: People conceal secrets to look normal.
Key Takeaway
Embrace authenticity despite fear.
Themes
identity
conformity
fear
social perception
Mood
anxious
reflective
Type
philosophical
observational
When to use this quote
- daily work
- social media presence
- personal relationships
- public speaking
Key Concepts
psychology
self‑deception
reputation
Questions to Reflect On
- What secret are you protecting?
- How does conformity limit personal growth?
A Different Perspective
Hidden motives can still be discovered despite caution.
![“I worry about the lack of experience that Rex Tillerson has had on the diplomatic front and, frankly, I think that's true for many of the appointments to [Donald] Trump's cabinet.” quote by Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c4e/claire-mccaskill-5688_appointments_i-worry-about-the-lack-of-experience-tha_143996.jpg)
