Quotes About Introspection

Once you began speculation about that, once you admited to yourself that you didn't really know how another person's mind operated, then you came up against the ultimate admission—anything was possible.

It is the fate of the genius to dwell alone.

You make yourself sick.

He winced at the realization, then took a deep breath. This was no time to be self-conscious or self-critical. One had to be prctical. Very practical, very careful, very calm.

That was the most important thing. He had to stop talking to himself. He had to get back that calm feeling agan. He had to face reality. And what was reality?

Funny, Sam told himself, how we take it for granted that we know all there is to know about another person, just because we see them frequently or because of some strong emotional tie.

The life of a painter demands solitude

Talk about not knowing other people—why, when you came right down to it, you didn't even know yourself!

I know what I want and what I might gain, and yet, how profitless to know.

O, wad some Power the giftie gie us To see oursels as others see us! It wad frae monie a blunder free us, An' foolish notion.

Oh would some power the giftie gie us, To see ourselves as others see us.

Wee, sleekit, cowrin, tim'rous beastie, O, what a panic's in thy breastie!

Oh the gift that God could give us, to see ourselves as others see us.

Generally thus much we may conclude of melancholy; that it is [2604] most pleasant at first, I say, mentis gratissimus error, [2605] a most delightsome humour, to be alone, dwell alone, walk alone, meditate, lie in bed whole days, dreaming awake as it were, and frame a thousand fantastical imaginations unto themselves.

If any one shall ask in the meantime, who I am that so boldly censure others, have I no faults? Yes, more than thou hast, whatsoever thou art.

On the train to London, with those successfully exposed rolls in my bag, I hated myself and my profession. This sort of photography was only for undertakers, and I didn't like being one. If I was to share the funeral, I swore, I would have to share the procession.

Sometimes I wake up at night in a panic. Wondering: What will my life be like? And sometimes I even wonder: Who am I? What am I doing here, on this planet, in this city, in this house? And it gives me the shivers, makes me panic.

I don't laugh very much, he said, realizing the truth of the statement as he made it, this sudden bit of knowledge disturbing him.

The room seemed to have lost a certain essence that he could not pin down. Then knew suddenly what it was. The room was—lonely. For the first time in his life, he knew what loneliness was like. Until that moment the word had been meaningless to him.

Life does not provide answers, only questions.

he had never felt left out: it was his choice. To be a witness, to observe, to let the events be recorded within himself on some personal film in some secret compartment no one knew about, except him.

I leaned against the fence and crossed my arms and stared at her. After a while she looked over and said, "Why are you staring at me?" "Because I am the Lord High Keeper of the Knowledge of Right and Wrong, and I am trying to figure out what to do." She blinked at me. "Jiminy Cricket," I said. "He was also Counselor in Moments of Temptation, and Guide Along the Straight and Narrow Path. You need that.

I didn't know what to say that wouldn't sound self

Maybe if I didn't think about Mimi Warren or Traci Louise Fishman or Eddie Tang they would all disappear and living would be easy. Elvis Cole, Existential Detective. I liked that. Not thinking, properly done, creates a pleasant numbed sensation in the brain that I like a lot. There are women who will tell you that not thinking is one of my best things.