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About this quote

What does it mean?
A man is paralyzed by the fear and shame of confessing his love to a woman.
In plain terms
He wants to confess love but is too scared to.
What can you take from it?
Fear of rejection can stop you from speaking.

Where it applies

  • romantic confession
  • social anxiety
  • unrequited love

Putting it to work

  • planning a confession
  • overcoming anxiety

Questions to consider

  • What are you afraid to say?
  • What is the worst that could happen?

Another view

Sometimes waiting is better than risking rejection.

More from Gustave Flaubert

  1. Had they nothing more to say to each other? Their eyes, certainly, were full of more meaningful talk; and as they made themselves utter banalities they sensed …

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  2. And all this time she was torn by wild desires, by rage, by hatred. The trim folds of her dress hid a heart in turmoil, and her reticent lips told nothing of t…

    Permalink to quote #39
  3. In the tragedy in question, for example, he condemned the ideas but admired the style, abhorred the conception but praised all the details, found the character…

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