"Living next to you is in some ways like sleeping with an elephant. No matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast, if I can call it that, one is affected by every twitch and grunt"

This quote by Pierre Trudeau is a metaphor for residing in close proximity to someone. It recommends that living next to somebody can be like sleeping with an elephant, because no matter how friendly and even-tempered the person is, their every action and response will still impact you. It indicates that living in close distance to someone can be frustrating which it can be difficult to neglect their existence. It likewise suggests that even if the person is normally friendly and even-tempered, their presence can still be felt and can still have a result on you. This quote is a pointer that living in close proximity to somebody can be both a blessing and a curse.