He walks in the street, a picture of modesty in his felt hat and his gabardine suit, and all the while he's thinking, 'I'm immortal.' The world is his, time is his, and I'm nothing but an insect.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Arrogance can be mistaken for innocence or modesty by outsiders.
- In plain terms
- A modest look can hide arrogance.
- What can you take from it?
- Appearances hide internal states.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What does he truly think?
- How well do you know others?
Another view
Modesty is not always a facade.
More from Simone De Beauvoir
I'm never afraid. But in my case it's nothing to be proud of.
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