When you have lived as long as I, you will see that every human being has his shell, and that you must take the shell into acount. By the shell I mean the whole envelope of circumstances. There is no such thing as an isolated man or woman; we are each of us made up of a cluster of apurtenances. What do you call one's self? Where does it begin? Where does it end? It overflows into everythng tht belongs to us - and then flows back again. {...} One's self - for other people - is one's expression of one's self; and one's house, one's clothes, the books one reads, the company one keeps - these things are all expressive.

📖 Henry James


🎂 April 15, 1843  –  ⚰️ February 28, 1916
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In this passage from The Portrait of a Lady, Henry James illustrates the interconnectedness of individuals and their circumstances. He emphasizes that every person has a "shell," representing the various external factors that shape their identity. This shell encompasses not only personal attributes but also external elements like one's environment, possessions, and social interactions. James suggests that understanding a person requires recognizing these layers that define who they are.

Moreover, James...

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April 17, 2025

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