So easily bruised, so swiftly wounded

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“They are not brave, the days when we are twenty-one. They are full of little cowardices, little fears without foundation, and one is so easily bruised, so swiftly wounded, one falls to the first barbed word. To-day, wrapped in the complacent armour of approaching middle age, the infinitesimal pricks of day by day brush one but lightly and are soon forgotten, but then—how a careless word would linger, becoming a fiery stigma, and how a look, a glance over a shoulder, branded themselves as things eternal.”

— Daphne du Maurier, Rebecca


Directionally building “complacent armor.”

Credits: Quotes – Journalofanobody. Photograph: Alex Mazurov via Black and White

18 thoughts on “So easily bruised, so swiftly wounded”

    1. Yes Lori. Your thought reminds me of Nietzsche quote. And du Maurier did it with magic.

      “It is my ambition to say in ten sentences what others say in a whole book.”

      ― Friedrich Nietzsche

  1. When the nurse interviewed me before a recent procedure, she asked if i had any heart problems. I said it was broken a couple of times but it eventually healed… 🙂

      1. At the time I remember really enjoying the read, but now I can’t honestly remember what it was about. Mind you, I was a different person then. Time and experience changes us, doesn’t it?

  2. Wow, I love that!! 🙂 That’s so true, and I’ve been meaning to read one of her books soon, thanks for reminding me! As much as we’d all like to be younger, I don’t think any of us would envy a young person for the way they feel about themselves and life. It’s a lovely time, but a stressful one! 🙂

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