"We like to see others, but don't like others to see through us"

This quote by Jean de La Fontaine speaks to a typical human desire: the desire for personal privacy. While we might delight in being around others and having companionship, we likewise want to preserve a sense of control over how we present ourselves to the world. We might be comfy sharing our ideas and sensations with others, but we want to be able to do so selectively and on our own terms. Similarly, we might be interested in learning more about others, but we don't want them to understand everything about us. This quote advises us of the value of appreciating others' boundaries and privacy, and of acknowledging our own requirement for area and autonomy in our relationships with others.