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Absent mindedness Quote by Virginia Woolf

“Yet it is true that there was an absent mindedness about her which sometimes made her clumsy; she was apt to think of poetry when she should have been thinking of taffeta; her walk was a little too much of a stride for a woman, perhaps, and her gestures, being abrupt, might endanger a cup of tea…” quote by Virginia Woolf
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““Yet it is true that there was an absent mindedness about her which sometimes made her clumsy; she was apt to think of poetry when she should have been thinking of taffeta; her walk was a little too much of a stride for a woman, perhaps, and her gestures, being abrupt, might endanger a cup of tea on occasion.””

Virginia Woolf

About This Quote

A character’s distracted, poetic mind leads to clumsy, impulsive actions, highlighting tension between imagination and practicality.

In simple terms: Imagination can cause clumsy real‑world behavior.

Key Takeaway

Balance creativity with practical awareness.

Themes

creativity clumsiness mindfulness gender expectations

Mood

reflective thoughtful

Type

literary observational

When to use this quote

  • social interactions
  • creative work
  • daily routines
  • self‑awareness

Key Concepts

poetry attention social etiquette

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can you channel poetic thoughts productively?
  • When does imagination hinder daily tasks?
A Different Perspective

Practical duties may suffer when imagination dominates.

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