Full Idea
Whenever we have something definite to do at a given moment, we depute a certain person inside us who is accustomed to that sort of duty to keep an eye on the clock and warn us of the time. This inner servant reminded me that Albertine was coming soon.
Gist of Idea
When we need to do something, we depute an inner servant to remind us of it
Source
Marcel Proust (Remembrance of Things Past [1922], Cities.2.1)
Book Reference
Proust,Marcel: 'Remembrance of Things Past' [Penguin 1983], p.735
A Reaction
I think Proust is wrong that we 'depute' this servant. I think it comes as a built-in feature, and the servant could never be abandoned or sacked, no matter how poor the service. Each of us is a team, which includes servants.