I mean one of the things about being alone is that you’ve no people to define yourself off, I mean, people are like all-round mirrors, because let’s face it, we don’t often see ourselves all round in a mirror anyway, do we.

Diana Wynne Jones

The Quote in Other Words

One of the advantages of being alone is that you don’t have anyone to compare yourself to. People act as mirrors, but we rarely see ourselves from all angles in a mirror.

Explanation of the Quote

This quote highlights the idea that our sense of self is often shaped by the people around us. When we are alone, we lack the external feedback that helps us understand who we are. People act as mirrors, reflecting back to us our strengths, weaknesses, and quirks. Without these reflections, we may struggle to see ourselves clearly.

However, the quote also suggests that our self-perception is often incomplete. We may only see certain aspects of ourselves in the mirrors provided by others. This can lead to a distorted sense of self, as we focus on the parts of ourselves that are most visible to others, rather than our full range of qualities.

Ultimately, the quote reminds us of the importance of self-reflection and introspection. While the feedback of others can be helpful, it is ultimately up to us to define ourselves and understand our own unique qualities and characteristics.