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About this quote

What does it mean?
He assumed she was content, but she resented his calm and the happiness she gave him.
In plain terms
She disliked his quiet satisfaction that she thought she caused.
What can you take from it?
Assumptions about others' feelings can cause resentment.

Where it applies

  • marriage
  • friendship

Putting it to work

  • communicate feelings openly
  • check assumptions

Questions to consider

  • Do you often assume how others feel?
  • How can you verify those assumptions?

Another view

Sometimes people may not even recognize their own resentment.

More from Gustave Flaubert

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  3. She might have been glad to confide all these things to someone. But how to speak about so elusive a malaise, one that keeps changing its shape like the clouds…

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