Does not a man physically tremble under the mere look of a wild beast or fellow-man that is stronger than himself? Does not a woman redden all over when she feels her lover's eyes on her? How then should one doubt the mysterious power of one individual over another?
Interpretation
The quote highlights the powerful, often subconscious influence individuals have on one another, especially in intimate relationships.
Jane Welsh Carlyle's quote reflects on the profound impact that the presence and gaze of others can have on us. It emphasizes how a person can elicit strong emotional responses, such as fear or attraction, purely through their physical presence or awareness of our vulnerability. The observation of how both fear and love can create intense reactions underlines the mysterious and potent nature of interpersonal connections.
In practice
This quote can be used in a discussion about the dynamics of relationships during a psychology class.
How many precious things do we not already possess which others have not - have hardly an idea of! Let us enjoy these, then, and bless God that we are permitted to enjoy them, rather than importune His goodness with vain longings for more.
The surest way to get a thing in this life is to be prepared for doing without it, to the exclusion even of hope.
I declare I would rather be a kitten and cry, 'Mew!' than live as I see many of my female acquaintances do, tearing each other's characters to pieces, and wearing out their lives in vanity and vexation of spirit.
One feels as if it could never, never be less. And yet all griefs, when there is no bitterness in them, are soothed down by time.
But what are friends? What is a husband, even, compared with one's Mother? Of her love, one is always so sure! It is the only love that nothing - not even misconduct on our part - can take away from us.
Never does one feel oneself so utterly helpless as in trying to speak comfort for great bereavement.
Help one another: this is what Jesus teaches us and this what I am doing, and doing with all my heart.
It was just enough to sit there without words.
I choose the likely man in preference to the rich man; I want a man without money rather than money without a man.
But I remember one thing:_x000D_ _x000D_ it wasn't me that started acting deaf;_x000D_ _x000D_ it was people that first started acting like_x000D_ _x000D_ I was too dumb to hear or see or say anything at all
Because our ancestors lived in social groups that changed slowly, because they encountered the same people throughout their lives, they could keep almost every social detail they needed to know in their heads.
In marriage you are not sacrificing yourself to the other person. You are sacrificing yourself to the relationship.
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