I feel strangely free at such times. To behave properly is to be always courteous, always clever, and subtle and elegant. But now, when I am so alone, I do not have to be any of these things. For this moment, I am wholly myself, unshaped by the needs of others, by their dreams or expectations or sensibilities. But I am also lonely. With no one to shape me, who stands here, watching the moon, or the stars, or the clouds?

Summary

This quote reflects the conflicting emotions experienced by the speaker in moments of solitude. On one hand, they express a sense of liberation from social expectations and the pressures to always project a sophisticated and refined persona. In this moment, they can authentically be themselves, unburdened by external influences. However, along with this freedom comes a deep sense of loneliness. The absence of others leaves the speaker pondering who is left to witness and share in their moments of wonder and reflection, such as observing natural phenomena like the moon, stars, or clouds.

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