In Thomas Pynchon's "Gravity's Rainbow," the quote "You hide, they seek" from the section titled "Proverbs for Paranoids" speaks to the themes of surveillance and the pursuit of control. It suggests that while individuals may try to conceal themselves or their intentions, there are always forces at play that actively seek to uncover them. This reflects a broader commentary on the human experience of feeling watched and the constant games of hide-and-seek that define social interactions and power dynamics.

The phrase encapsulates the tension between privacy and intrusion, illustrating the paranoia that can arise in a world filled with monitoring and scrutiny. It implies that hiding is often futile, as there will always be those who are intent on seeking out the hidden truths or realities of others. This idea resonates throughout Pynchon's work, which frequently explores the conflicts between individuality and the overwhelming systems that seek to impose conformity and control.