--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To think, for instance, that I have never…" description: "\"“To think, for instance, that I have never been aware before how many faces there are. There are quantities of human beings, but there are many more fa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ef/rainer-maria-rilke-193_good-enough_to-think-for-instance-that-i-have-never_1069318.jpg" --- # To think, for instance, that I have never been aware… ![“To think, for instance, that I have never been aware before how many faces there are. There are quantities of human beings, but there are many more faces, for each person has several. There are people who wear the same face for years; naturally it wears out, it gets dirty, it splits at the folds…” quote by Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ef/rainer-maria-rilke-193_good-enough_to-think-for-instance-that-i-have-never_1069318.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ef/rainer-maria-rilke-193_good-enough_to-think-for-instance-that-i-have-never_1069318.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ef/rainer-maria-rilke-193_good-enough_to-think-for-instance-that-i-have-never_1069318.jpg) > ““To think, for instance, that I have never been aware before how many faces there are. There are quantities of human beings, but there are many more faces, for each person has several. There are people who wear the same face for years; naturally it wears out, it gets dirty, it splits at the folds, it stretches, like gloves one has worn on a journey. These are thrifty, simple people; they do not change their face, they never even have it cleaned. It is good enough, they say, and who can prove to them the contrary? The question of course arises, since they have several faces, what do they do with the others? Thhey store them up. Their children will wear them. But sometimes, too, it happens that their dogs go out with them on. And why not? A face is a face.”” [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage reflects on the multiplicity of personas people adopt, suggesting that individuals present different “faces” in various contexts, and these masks are inherited or passed on. **In simple terms:** People wear many social masks, some never change them. Key Takeaway Recognize and examine the roles you play. Themes identity authenticity social masks inheritance self‑perception Mood reflective thoughtful introspective Type literary philosophical observational When to use this quote - personal relationships - work environments - family dynamics - creative expression Key Concepts persona theory psychology cultural critique Questions to Reflect On - Which of your “faces” feel most genuine? - How do you decide which mask to wear? A Different Perspective Some may argue that the metaphor over‑simplifies complex social behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-enough/) ## Related quotes > [There are quantities of human beings, but there are many more faces, for each person has several.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/there-are-quantities-of-human-beings-but-there-are-many-more-faces/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [I have never been aware before how many faces there are. 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When nothing in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beth-miller/why-do-people-kill-themselves-i-think-they-do-it-when-they-can-no/) [Mary Beth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beth-miller/) > [The fear of not being good enough, the fear of disappointing other people and the fear of failure can really hurt one's personality and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/the-fear-of-not-being-good-enough-the-fear-of-disappointing-other/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [I may never be good enough for everybody. 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Ladybird good enough to handle any all comes she fuckin way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacia-kane/ain-t-got-no-shit-to-fuckin-worry-on-dig-ladybird-good-enough-to/) [Stacia Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacia-kane/) ## More by Rainer Maria Rilke > [The artist's experience lies so unbelievably close to the sexual, to its pain and its pleasure, that the two phenomena are really just different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/the-artist-s-experience-lies-so-unbelievably-close-to-the-sexual-to/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [“Out of infinite longings rise finite deeds like weak fountains, falling back just in time and trembling. And yet, what otherwise remains silent, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/out-of-infinite-longings-rise-finite-deeds-like-weak-fountains/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [“I love the dark hours of my being. My mind deepens into them. 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These are thrifty, simple people; they do not change their face, they never even have it cleaned. It is good enough, they say, and who can prove to them the contrary? The question of course arises, since they have several faces, what do they do with the others? Thhey store them up. Their children will wear them. But sometimes, too, it happens that their dogs go out with them on. And why not? 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