the pitying, slightly scornful smile of an adept among catechumens

[cimorene]

“For every man worthy of the name is an initiate; but each one into different Mysteries. And some walk among their fellows with the pitying, slightly scornful smile, of an adept among catechumens. And some are confiding and garrulous, and would so willingly communicate their own unique secret - in vain! For though they shout it in the market-place, or whisper it in music and poetry, what they say is never the same as what they know, and they are like ghosts charged with a message of tremendous import who can only trail their chains and gibber.”

—Hope Mirlees, Lud-in-the-Mist

Comments

[vass]

Oh, wow. That is a devastating and recognisable character portrait of a common type.

[cimorene]

LOL, I know, right? Simultaneously I went "Oh, hah, I know that guy" and "Gosh, I hope that's not what I'm like when I try to give advice..."

[vass]

same, on both counts.