Having finished his argument Stephen walked on in silence. He felt Cranly's hostility and he accused himself of having cheapened the eternal images of beauty. For the first time, too, he felt slightly awkward in his friend's company and to restore a mood of flippant familiarity he glanced up at the clock of the Ballast Office and smiled: - It has not epiphanised yet, he said.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Stephen feels he has cheapened beauty and feels awkward after an argument, using a clock to restore familiarity.
- In plain terms
- After arguing, he feels guilty about beauty and uses a clock to break the tension.
- What can you take from it?
- Use small observations to ease social tension after conflict.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do you restore balance after a fight?
- Can objects help you reconnect with others?
Another view
Using humor might avoid addressing the real emotional issue.
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