A man has his distinctive personal scent which his wife, his children and his dog can recognize. A crowd has a generalized stink. The public is odorless.

Summary

This quote suggests that individuals have a unique scent, called a personal scent, that specifically those closest to them, like their spouse, children, or even their pet, can distinguish. On the other hand, when people come together as a group, like in a crowd, they collectively emit a sense of unpleasant odor or a "generalized stink." However, when it comes to the masses or the general public, they are perceived as lacking any distinguishable scent – they are said to be "odorless." This quote highlights the idea that amidst the blend of different smells, each person still retains their own distinctiveness.

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