Quote by Mark Twain
Where a blood relation sobs, an intimate friend should choke up, a distant acquaintance should sigh, a stranger should merely fumble sympathetically with his handkerchief.

Summary
This quote highlights the varying degrees of emotional response we should exhibit in different social relationships when someone is experiencing sorrow. It suggests that a blood relation, such as a family member, has the closest bond and should express their emotions openly. An intimate friend is expected to feel deeply affected and struggle to hold back tears. A distant acquaintance should show a more subtle empathy by sighing, while a stranger, lacking a personal connection, should still display sympathy but in a more restrained manner, like clumsily reaching for a handkerchief.
Topics
Funerals
By Mark Twain