"He was welcome everywhere he went, and was well-aware of his inability to tolerate solitude. He felt no inclination to be alone and avoided it as far as possible; he didn't really want to become any better acquainted with himself. He knew that if he wanted to show his talents to best advantage, he needed to strike sparks off other people to fan the flames of warmth and exuberance in his heart. On his own he was frosty, no use to himself at all, like a match left lying in its box."

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Source: Stefan Zweig (2008). “Burning Secret”, p.7, Pushkin Press

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Stefan Zweig

Writer

Stefan Zweig was an Austrian writer known for his psychological insight and exploration of human emotions, particularly in works like 'The World of Yesterday.'

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