"When one tears away the veils and shows them naked, people's souls give off such a pungent smell of decay"

This quote by Octave Mirbeau talks with the idea that when one is removed of their external layers, their real nature is disclosed. The phrase "tears away the shrouds" recommends that these layers are metaphorical veils that hide the fact of a person's personality. When these veils are gotten rid of, the "pungent odor of decay" is disclosed. This phrase suggests that the true nature of an individual is not as pleasant as the outside layers suggest. It suggests that beneath the veils, individuals are not as good as they seem. This quote talks with the idea that individuals commonly put on a facade to hide their true nature, and that when this exterior is removed, the truth is exposed. It is a reminder that individuals should not be evaluated by their exterior layers, yet by their true character.