“The next suitable person you’re in light conversation with, you stop suddenly in the middle of the conversation and look at the person closely and say, “What’s wrong?” You say it in a concerned way. He’ll say, “What do you mean?” You say, “Something’s wrong. I can tell. What is it?” And he’ll look stunned and say, “How did you know?” He doesn’t realize something’s always wrong, with everybody. Often more than one thing. He doesn’t know everybody’s always going around all the time with something wrong and believing they’re exerting great willpower and control to keep other people, for whom they think nothing’s ever wrong, from seeing it.”
– David Foster Wallace, The Pale King
Words for the Year 
I know this is a great serious lesson and oh SO true. But I’m chuckling just a bit.
I’ve pulled this on my best friend before. She’ll deny it till the cows come home and then a couple of hours later I’ll get a text that says, “how the F did you know?”
BTW: I LOVE the new look here. Sorry if it’s not a new look…I haven’t been on my laptop all week and things look different when it’s via iPhone.
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We’re all mad here, huh? Something is always wrong…and if not, then they’re paranoid that you *think* something is wrong.
Yep, new look as of this week. Wanted a little more crisper look, and a way for folks to “like” without having to open up the posts. I’m glad you like the look!
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I saw my girl this weekend. My bestie and I went to visit her at college. She opened the door, looked so beautiful and yet, I could see alligator tears behind those big brown orbs. One little question, “What’s wrong baby?” and the three of us were sharing a gallon of ice cream 🙂
Yep. We are all mad here.
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Brilliant quote!
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Reblogged this on The Dad Poet and commented:
This is one I’d like to try. Funny, and frightening how true this is of people. I’ll have to put Wallace’s book on my reading list.
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You’d probably still get some denial from a few…but, like Michelle’s friend above, they’d wonder how on earth you could tell.
DFW, Pale King, okaaay book. Infinite Jest is still my fave. He truly had a brilliant mind.
Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks! We have both of them here at the library where I work. 🙂 Thanks for the enlightening post!
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poker face
~
calling
the
bluff
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all in
or fold
poker
imitates
life
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Wow~ it is so true. Might need to say this to a few close friends who I feel are struggling! Thanks for sharing!
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