--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was a stray acquaintance whom he had…" description: "\"I was a stray acquaintance whom he had never seem before and would never see again, a wandered for a moment through his monotonous life, and some starv..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/890/w-somerset-maugham-237_acquaintance_i-was-a-stray-acquaintance-whom-he-had-n_1621035.jpg" --- # I was a stray acquaintance whom he had never seem before… ![“I was a stray acquaintance whom he had never seem before and would never see again, a wandered for a moment through his monotonous life, and some starved impulse left him to lay bare his soul. I have in this way learned more about men in a night than I could if I had known them for 10 years. If…” quote by W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/890/w-somerset-maugham-237_acquaintance_i-was-a-stray-acquaintance-whom-he-had-n_1621035.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/890/w-somerset-maugham-237_acquaintance_i-was-a-stray-acquaintance-whom-he-had-n_1621035.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/890/w-somerset-maugham-237_acquaintance_i-was-a-stray-acquaintance-whom-he-had-n_1621035.jpg) > “I was a stray acquaintance whom he had never seem before and would never see again, a wandered for a moment through his monotonous life, and some starved impulse left him to lay bare his soul. I have in this way learned more about men in a night than I could if I had known them for 10 years. If you are interested in human nature, it is one of the greatest pleasures of travel.” [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Brief encounters reveal deeper truths about humanity than long‑term familiarity. **In simple terms:** Short meetings teach more about people than years. Key Takeaway Seek insight in fleeting moments. Themes human nature travel observation Mood reflective curious Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - travel - solo journeys - nighttime reflections - cultural immersion Key Concepts psychology epiphany transience Questions to Reflect On - What fleeting moment changed your view of people? - How does travel sharpen your understanding of humanity? A Different Perspective Short encounters may lack context for accurate judgment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acquaintance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquaintance/) [Acquaintance Wandered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquaintance-wandered-273219/) [Greatest pleasures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-pleasures/) [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Impulse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impulse/) [Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known/) [Lays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lays/) [Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Monotonous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monotonous/) [Monotonous life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monotonous-life/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Pleasures Travel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasures-travel-273221/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Stray Acquaintance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stray-acquaintance-273220/) [Travel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/travel/) [Wandered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wandered/) [Wandered Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wandered-moment-273222/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [One of the pleasures of travel is to dive into places where others are compelled to live and come out unscathed, full of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baudrillard/one-of-the-pleasures-of-travel-is-to-dive-into-places-where-others/) [Jean Baudrillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baudrillard/) > [“If I were asked to enumerate the pleasures of travel, this would be one of the greatest among them--that so often and so unexpectedly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-were-asked-to-enumerate-the-pleasures-of-travel-this-would-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Do you know that conversation is one of the greatest pleasures in life? 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Because He doesn't see you through eyes of disapproval or disappointment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-furtick/it-shouldn-t-freak-you-out-to-realize-that-god-s-eyes-are-on-you/) [Steven Furtick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-furtick/) > [Golf without bunkers and hazards would be tame and monotonous. So would life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/golf-without-bunkers-and-hazards-would-be-tame-and-monotonous-so/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [I loved, as I still love, the most monotonous life possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-martineau/i-loved-as-i-still-love-the-most-monotonous-life-possible/) [Harriet Martineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-martineau/) > [But the monotonous life led by invalids often makes them like children, inasmuch as thy have neither of them any sense of proportion in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/but-the-monotonous-life-led-by-invalids-often-makes-them-like/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [The way not to lead a monotonous life is to live for others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-way-not-to-lead-a-monotonous-life-is-to-live-for-others/) [Fulton J. 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What if I've set a series of events into motion that will doom me to be trapped forever in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sinn-nachtrieb/what-if-this-is-it-what-if-i-ve-set-a-series-of-events-into-motion/) [Peter Sinn Nachtrieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sinn-nachtrieb/) > [I love the smell of Waffle House; it's the smell of freedom, being on the open road and knowing that ninety percent of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/i-love-the-smell-of-waffle-house-it-s-the-smell-of-freedom-being-on/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [The routines of tourism are even more monotonous than those of daily life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/the-routines-of-tourism-are-even-more-monotonous-than-those-of-daily/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) ## More by W. Somerset Maugham > [“A man thinks it quite natural that he should fall out of love with a woman, but it never strikes him for a moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/a-man-thinks-it-quite-natural-that-he-should-fall-out-of-love-with-a/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“A man's work reveals him. In social intercourse he gives you the surface that he wishes the world to accept, but in his book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/a-man-s-work-reveals-him-in-social-intercourse-he-gives-you-the/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [Love is only a dirty trick played on us to achieve continuation of the species.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/love-is-only-a-dirty-trick-played-on-us-to-achieve-continuation-of/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [The world is hard and cruel. 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It makes one long for an apple occasionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/in-hollywood-the-women-are-all-peaches-it-makes-one-long-for-an-apple/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [Follow your inclinations with due regard to the policeman round the corner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/follow-your-inclinations-with-due-regard-to-the-policeman-round-the/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“His love became a prison from which he longed to escape, but he had not the strength merely to open the door-that was all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/his-love-became-a-prison-from-which-he-longed-to-escape-but-he-had/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [I did not believe him capable of love. That is an emotion in which tenderness is an essential part, but Strickland had no tenderness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/i-did-not-believe-him-capable-of-love-that-is-an-emotion-in-which/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [If only the good were a little less heavy-footed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/if-only-the-good-were-a-little-less-heavy-footed/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [Perfection has one grave defect: it is apt to be dull.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/perfection-has-one-grave-defect-it-is-apt-to-be-dull/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“A God that can be understood is no God. Who can explain the Infinite in words?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/a-god-that-can-be-understood-is-no-god-who-can-explain-the-infinite/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“My dear, you used to be quite a dish; now you're quite a tureen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/my-dear-you-used-to-be-quite-a-dish-now-you-re-quite-a-tureen/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“When people say they do not care what others thing of them, for the most part they deceive themselves”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/when-people-say-they-do-not-care-what-others-thing-of-them-for-the/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) [Explore all 840 W. Somerset Maugham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) ## More Acquaintance quotes > [Distrust all those who love you extremely upon a very slight acquaintance and without any visible reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distrust-all-those-who-love-you-extremely-upon-a-very-slight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Be much alone with God, and take time to get thoroughly acquainted. Converse over everything with Him. Unburden yourself wholly -every thought, feeling, wish,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatius-bonar/be-much-alone-with-god-and-take-time-to-get-thoroughly-acquainted/) [Horatius Bonar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatius-bonar/) > [The study of history and philosophy, accompanied by some acquaintance with art and literature, should be for lawyers and engineers as well as for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/the-study-of-history-and-philosophy-accompanied-by-some-acquaintance/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [The love of new acquaintance comes not so much from being weary of what we had before, or from any satisfaction there is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-love-of-new-acquaintance-comes-not-so-much-from-being-weary-of/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [One frequently only finds out how really beautiful a women is, until after considerable acquaintance with her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/one-frequently-only-finds-out-how-really-beautiful-a-women-is-until/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“I'd rather be a nodding acquaintance, than a bobble head”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-stern/i-d-rather-be-a-nodding-acquaintance-than-a-bobble-head/) [Josh Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-stern/) > [In addition to my other numerous acquaintances, I have one more intimate confidant… My depression is the most faithful mistress I have known —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/in-addition-to-my-other-numerous-acquaintances-i-have-one-more/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [God is a spirit. Jesus was led up of the Spirit to be tempted of the Devil; and it is also true that spirits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradlaugh/god-is-a-spirit-jesus-was-led-up-of-the-spirit-to-be-tempted-of-the/) [Charles Bradlaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradlaugh/) > [ \[On an anarchist acquaintance:\] Everything in appearance the most alarmist aunt could wish. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/on-an-anarchist-acquaintance-everything-in-appearance-the-most/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [There is no such thing as educational value in the abstract. The notion that some subjects and methods and that acquaintance with certain facts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/there-is-no-such-thing-as-educational-value-in-the-abstract-the/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [ \[Books\] will visit you at your convenience, whether you are lonesome or not, on rainy days or fair. They propose themselves as either transient… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/books-will-visit-you-at-your-convenience-whether-you-are-lonesome-or/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [I'm not dating Prateik; he is just a good acquaintance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amyra-dastur/i-m-not-dating-prateik-he-is-just-a-good-acquaintance/) [Amyra Dastur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amyra-dastur/) > [Moderation is the inseparable companion of wisdom, but with it genius has not even a nodding acquaintance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/moderation-is-the-inseparable-companion-of-wisdom-but-with-it-genius/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [The greatest embarrassment of my political career has been that active duties seem to deprive me of time for careful investigation. 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