“The foreigner is within me, hence we are all foreigners.”
What this quote means
Kristeva asserts that the foreigner is not only the other, but a part of ourselves. We carry within us unknown aspects, repressed or different parts that make us strangers to ourselves. This idea resonates because it dissolves the boundary between the familiar and the unknown, and invites empathy. In life, this applies when we meet someone different: by recognizing our own strangeness, we can welcome the other.
How to apply it daily
When meeting someone from a different culture, remind yourself that you are also a foreigner to them, and approach them with curiosity.
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