Able Quote by Susan Sontag
“Dissimulation, secretiveness, appear a necessity to the melancholic. He has complex, often veiled relations with others. These feelings of superiority, of inadequacy, of baffled feeling, of not being able to get what one wants, or even name it properly (or consistently) to oneself — these can be, it is felt they ought to be, masked by friendliness, or the most scrupulous manipulation.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: On Photography, Susan Sontag, 1977
People often hide true feelings behind friendliness, creating complex, veiled relationships and feeling both superior and inadequate.
In simple terms: Masking true emotions leads to hidden, complicated interactions.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and address hidden emotions.
Themes
identity
relationship
self‑perception
manipulation
melancholy
Mood
reflective
somber
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- therapy
- workplace interactions
Key Concepts
psychology
social dynamics
self‑esteem
Questions to Reflect On
- What emotions are you masking?
- How does hidden superiority affect your relationships?
A Different Perspective
Friendliness can conceal deeper issues, hindering authentic connection.
![“Anthropology has always struggled with an intense, fascinated repulsion towards its subject… [The anthropologist] submits himself to the exotic to confirm his own inner alienation as an urban intellectual.” quote by Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fe1/susan-sontag-332_alienation_anthropology-has-always-struggled-with-a_15322.jpg)
