Business Quote by Robertson Davies
““We all create an outward self with which to face the world, and some people come to believe that is what they truly are. So they people the world with doctors who are nothing outside of the consulting-room, and judges who are nothing when they are not in court, and business men who wither with boredom when they have to retire from business, and teachers who are forever teaching. That is why they are such poor specimens when they are caught without their masks on. They have lived chiefly through the Persona.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Fifth Business by Robertson Davies, 1970
People often define themselves solely by their professional roles, forgetting their deeper identity, leading to a fragile sense of self when those roles end.
In simple terms: Roles can mask true self; losing them feels exposing.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate identity beyond work titles.
Themes
identity
role
self
authenticity
masking
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
psychological
literary
When to use this quote
- career transition
- retirement
- life coaching
- therapy
- education
Key Concepts
persona
self-concept
existential
career
social expectations
Questions to Reflect On
- What aspects of yourself remain when your job ends?
- How can you nurture a core identity beyond titles?
A Different Perspective
Roles can be limiting and may cause existential crisis when removed.
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