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Not afraid of poverty and drabness and who is untouched by it, untouched by the drunkenness of her friends; (she) who judges, selects, discards people with severity, who knows, when she is telling her endless anecdotes, that they are ways of escape, keeping herself all the more secret behind that profuse talk.
Anais Nin
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote reflects on a person's complexity and the way they navigate social interactions while maintaining a guarded inner self.

Anais Nin's quote delves into the intricate nature of human relationships and personal identity. It describes an individual who, despite experiencing the challenges of poverty and the superficiality of social connections, remains selective and discerning in her interactions. Her storytelling serves as both a means of connection and a protective barrier, highlighting the duality of seeking connection while longing for privacy and self-preservation.

Themes

RelationshipsSelf-PreservationComplexitySocialAnecdotes

In practice

Example use cases

This quote could be shared in a discussion about the complexities of friendships during a book club meeting.

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But I lie. I embellish. My words are not deep enough. They disguise, they conceal. I will not rest until I have told of my descent into a sensuality which was as dark, as magnificent, as wild, as my moments of mystic creation have been dazzling, ecstatic, exalted.
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