Accounts Quote by Virginia Woolf
“Suppose the looking glass smashes, the image disappears, and the romantic figure with the green of forest depths all about it is there no longer, but only that shell of a person which is seen by other people - what an airless, shallow, bald, prominent world it becomes! A world not to be lived in. As we face each other in omnibuses and underground railways we are looking into the mirror that accounts for the vagueness, the gleam of glassiness, in our eyes.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Mrs Dalloway, 1925
The loss of authentic connection makes society feel empty and superficial, turning human interaction into a hollow performance.
In simple terms: Loss of genuine connection creates a shallow world.
Key Takeaway
Seek deeper, authentic relationships.
Themes
alienation
authenticity
human connection
Mood
lonely
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- urban life
- public transport
- social media interactions
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we foster real intimacy in crowded spaces?
- What does “mirror” symbolize in modern life?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may overstate everyday interactions as merely reflective surfaces.
