Nothing is stranger or more ticklish than a relationship between people who know each other only by sight, who meet and observe each other daily—no, hourly—and are nevertheless compelled to keep up the pose of an indifferent stranger, neither greeting nor addressing each other, whether out of etiquette or their own whim.

About Thomas Mann

Paul Thomas Mann (6 June 1875 – 12 August 1955) was a German novelist, short story writer, social critic, philanthropist, essayist, and the 1929 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate. His highly symbolic and ironic epic novels and novellas are noted for their insight into the psychology of the artist and...

More quotations from Thomas Mann

No man remains quite what he was when he recognizes himself.

—Thomas Mann

vision recognition enlightenment

One day President Roosevelt told me that he was asking publicly for suggestions about what the war should be called. I said at once 'The Unnecessary War'.

—Thomas Mann

war

It is love, not reason, that is stronger than death.

—Thomas Mann

love strength death immortality

A writer is a person for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people.

—Thomas Mann

difficulty writing

A great truth is a truth whose opposite is also a truth.

—Thomas Mann

truth opposites

More quotations tagged with “strangers”

I have often depended on the blindness of strangers.

—Adrienne E. Gusoff

blindness strangers puns

Never floss with a stranger.

—Joan Rivers

floss hygiene strangers

The more I traveled, the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.

—Shirley MacLaine

friends travel familiarity strangers

History

13 Feb 2016 Added
26 Oct 2026 Wording changed

Previous wording

Nothing is stranger or more ticklish than a relationship between people who know each other only by sight, who meet and observe each other daily — no, hourly — and are nevertheless compelled to keep up the pose of an indifferent stranger, neither greeting nor addressing each other, whether out of etiquette or their own whim.