John TibbettsTo know a person in his home is not to know him at all: to meet him on a country road with only his baggage is to at last contact the core, the inner cell of his personality.
About This Quote
In this quote, Henry David Thoreau expresses the idea that a person’s true nature is never truly known until that person is removed from his or her familiar environment and put into a totally different situation. For instance, if you know someone only in the context of a relationship, you might assume that they are a kind and caring person. However, if you get to know them away from their spouse and children, it’s possible that their true personality will be revealed. You will see how they react when they are alone and have to be responsible for themselves instead of relying on other people.
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