--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I feel a reassuring oneness with other…" description: "\"I feel a reassuring oneness with other people when I find that even my most intimate, anguished, socially inadmissible emotions and desires are known t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/yi-fu-tuan-41039_book_i-feel-a-reassuring-oneness-with-other-p_267979.png" --- # I feel a reassuring oneness with other people when I find… ![“I feel a reassuring oneness with other people when I find that even my most intimate, anguished, socially inadmissible emotions and desires are known to others… Kindred souls—indeed, my selves otherwise costumed—turn up in books in the most unexpected places. Discovering them is one of the great…” quote by Yi-Fu Tuan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/yi-fu-tuan-41039_book_i-feel-a-reassuring-oneness-with-other-p_267979.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/yi-fu-tuan-41039_book_i-feel-a-reassuring-oneness-with-other-p_267979.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/yi-fu-tuan-41039_book_i-feel-a-reassuring-oneness-with-other-p_267979.png) > “I feel a reassuring oneness with other people when I find that even my most intimate, anguished, socially inadmissible emotions and desires are known to others… Kindred souls—indeed, my selves otherwise costumed—turn up in books in the most unexpected places. Discovering them is one of the great rewards of a liberal education. If I quote liberally, it is not to show off book learning, which at my stage of life can only invite ridicule, but rather to bathe in this kinship of strangers.” [Yi-Fu Tuan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yi-fu-tuan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Finding shared emotional experiences in literature creates a sense of connection and validates personal feelings. **In simple terms:** Literature shows we share deep emotions. Key Takeaway Seek out stories that echo your inner life. Themes connection empathy education literature Mood introspective hopeful Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - college courses - book clubs - personal reflection - writing workshops Key Concepts shared humanity emotional resonance intellectual curiosity Questions to Reflect On - How do shared stories shape your worldview? - What role does literature play in personal growth? A Different Perspective Risk of over‑identifying with fictional narratives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotions/) [Great reward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-reward/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Intimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimate/) [Kindred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindred/) [Kinship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kinship/) [Liberal education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberal-education/) [Oneness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oneness/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reassuring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reassuring/) [Rewards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewards/) [Ridicule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ridicule/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Showing off](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/showing-off/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Stages of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stages-of-life/) [Stranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stranger/) [Unexpected places](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unexpected-places/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [Never give up your mind or your emotions; you need to take complete control of them. Having control makes feelings, emotions and desires much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola/never-give-up-your-mind-or-your-emotions-you-need-to-take-complete/) [Kemmy Nola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola/) > [“Always direct your emotions, desires, behaviour, and actions in the present so they are in alignment with what you want in your future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mensah-oteh/always-direct-your-emotions-desires-behaviour-and-actions-in-the/) [Mensah Oteh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mensah-oteh/) > [If we remove all judgment and preconceived ideas of who a person is, the truth is, we are all blessed with the same emotions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-de-cadenet/if-we-remove-all-judgment-and-preconceived-ideas-of-who-a-person-is/) [Amanda de Cadenet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-de-cadenet/) > [“Architecture is shaped by human emotions and desires, and then becomes a setting for further emotions and desires. It goes from the animate and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-moore/architecture-is-shaped-by-human-emotions-and-desires-and-then-becomes/) Rowan Moore > [Detach from emotions and desires; get rid of any fixations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuge-liang/detach-from-emotions-and-desires-get-rid-of-any-fixations/) [Zhuge Liang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuge-liang/) > [Poetry has been to me its own exceeding great reward; it has given me the habit of wishing to discover the good and beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/poetry-has-been-to-me-its-own-exceeding-great-reward-it-has-given-me/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Great rewards will come to those who can live together, learn together, work together, forge new ties that bind together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/great-rewards-will-come-to-those-who-can-live-together-learn-together/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [A new breed of ministers is rising up who will not wear out for the gospel. They are so caught up in passion, unity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-baker/a-new-breed-of-ministers-is-rising-up-who-will-not-wear-out-for-the/) [Heidi Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-baker/) > [If we should be blessed by some great reward, such as fame or fortune, it's the fruit of a seed planted by us in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/if-we-should-be-blessed-by-some-great-reward-such-as-fame-or-fortune/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [If the Lord should give you power to raise the dead, He would give much less than He does when he bestows suffering. By…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/if-the-lord-should-give-you-power-to-raise-the-dead-he-would-give/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [I am old, and death inevitably approaches. But both birth and death are beyond the will of a human being. They are not my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/i-am-old-and-death-inevitably-approaches-but-both-birth-and-death-are/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [Above all things I entreat you to preserve your faith in Christ. It is my wealth in poverty, my joy in sorrow, my peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/above-all-things-i-entreat-you-to-preserve-your-faith-in-christ-it-is/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [It was so satisfying for me - a great reward, just to see it done well. And it was beautifully directed by my daughter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-wray/it-was-so-satisfying-for-me-a-great-reward-just-to-see-it-done-well/) [Fay Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-wray/) > [Being willing to suffer often brings great rewards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-biel/being-willing-to-suffer-often-brings-great-rewards/) [Jessica Biel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-biel/) > [Everyone in this world is dealt a different hand-some better, some worse than others-but what's more important is how you play that hand. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-ha/everyone-in-this-world-is-dealt-a-different-hand-some-better-some/) Christine Ha ## More by Yi-Fu Tuan > [In a sense, every human construction, whether mental or material, is a component in a landscape of fear because it exists in constant chaos.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yi-fu-tuan/in-a-sense-every-human-construction-whether-mental-or-material-is-a/) [Yi-Fu Tuan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yi-fu-tuan/) > [A spontaneous act of generosity, performed with unselfish grace is an example of moral beauty, as are certain acts of courage; genuine modesty is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yi-fu-tuan/a-spontaneous-act-of-generosity-performed-with-unselfish-grace-is-an/) [Yi-Fu Tuan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yi-fu-tuan/) > [Lucidity, I maintain, is almost always desirable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yi-fu-tuan/lucidity-i-maintain-is-almost-always-desirable/) [Yi-Fu Tuan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yi-fu-tuan/) > [A great city may be seen as the construction of words as well as stone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yi-fu-tuan/a-great-city-may-be-seen-as-the-construction-of-words-as-well-as-stone/) [Yi-Fu Tuan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yi-fu-tuan/) > [All creative effort - including the making of an omelet - is preceded by destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yi-fu-tuan/all-creative-effort-including-the-making-of-an-omelet-is-preceded-by/) [Yi-Fu Tuan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yi-fu-tuan/) > [Geography is the study of earth as the home of people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yi-fu-tuan/geography-is-the-study-of-earth-as-the-home-of-people/) [Yi-Fu Tuan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yi-fu-tuan/) > [Animals are like humans, only more openly carnal and sexual, more openly and therefore more disarmingly absurd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yi-fu-tuan/animals-are-like-humans-only-more-openly-carnal-and-sexual-more/) [Yi-Fu Tuan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yi-fu-tuan/) > [Place is security, space is freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yi-fu-tuan/place-is-security-space-is-freedom/) [Yi-Fu Tuan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yi-fu-tuan/) > [It is by thoughtful reflection that the elusive moments of the past draw near to us in present reality and gain a measure of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yi-fu-tuan/it-is-by-thoughtful-reflection-that-the-elusive-moments-of-the-past/) [Yi-Fu Tuan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yi-fu-tuan/) [Explore all 10 Yi-Fu Tuan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yi-fu-tuan/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I feel a reassuring oneness with other people when I find that even my most intimate, anguished, socially inadmissible emotions and desires are known to others… Kindred souls—indeed, my selves otherwise costumed—turn up in books in the most unexpected places. Discovering them is one of the great rewards of a liberal education. If I quote liberally, it is not to show off book learning, which at my stage of life can only invite ridicule, but rather to bathe in this kinship of strangers.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Yi-Fu Tuan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yi-fu-tuan/i-feel-a-reassuring-oneness-with-other-people-when-i-find-that-even/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Book" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yi-fu-tuan/i-feel-a-reassuring-oneness-with-other-people-when-i-find-that-even/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/yi-fu-tuan-41039_book_i-feel-a-reassuring-oneness-with-other-p_267979.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/yi-fu-tuan-41039_book_i-feel-a-reassuring-oneness-with-other-p_267979.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/yi-fu-tuan-41039_book_i-feel-a-reassuring-oneness-with-other-p_267979.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I feel a reassuring oneness with other people when I find that even my most intimate, anguished, socially…” — Yi-Fu Tuan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Yi-Fu Tuan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yi-fu-tuan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I feel a reassuring oneness with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yi-fu-tuan/i-feel-a-reassuring-oneness-with-other-people-when-i-find-that-even/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yi-fu-tuan/i-feel-a-reassuring-oneness-with-other-people-when-i-find-that-even/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```