misanthrope

“The residue of the human spirit smeared on inanimate objects was all he could withstand of humanity. To contemplate, for example,evidence of human footsteps on the mat—absorb the smell of thequilt and wallow in the sweet certainty that many bodies hadsweated, slept, dreamed, made love, been ill, and even died underit. Wherever he went, he took along his things, and was alwayssearching for others. This thirst for worn things led him to casualbut habitual examinatons of trash barrels in alleys andwastebaskets in public places. . .”

From 'The Bluest Eye' by Toni Morrison.