And enough for me that when my hand touched your shoulder, you leaned on me; and when you felt me slip away, you called my name.
Orson Scott CardRead
Americans love to pick up, move on, start over. But instead of being somebody fresh and new, they become somebody lonely and lost, or, far too often these days, they become nobody at all, a machine for satisfying hunger, without loyalty or honor or duty.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the tendency of Americans to seek new beginnings, which can lead to feelings of isolation and loss of identity.
Orson Scott Card's quote critiques the American cultural inclination towards constant reinvention and starting over, suggesting that in the pursuit of becoming someone new, individuals often lose their sense of self and connection to others. Instead of embracing change as a means of personal growth, people may end up feeling lonely and directionless, merely existing as functional beings without deeper relationships or values.
Themes
IdentityChangeLonelinessReinventionCulture
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech discussing personal growth, one might use this quote to underline the importance of maintaining connections while pursuing change.
More from Orson Scott Card
All quotes →The world is always a democracy in times of flux, and the man with the best voice will win.
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Never mind that the story had turned out to be lies and foolishness—there was always folks stupid enough to say, Where there's smoke there's fire, when the saying should have been, Where there's scandalous lies there's always malicious believers and spreaders-around, regardless of evidence.
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The lives of all people flow through time, and, regardless of how brutal one moment may be, how filled with grief or pain or fear, time flows through all lives equally.
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You take a step, then another. That's the journey. But to take a step with your eyes open is not a journey at all, it's a remaking of your own mind.
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I've had your tears with mine, and you've had mine with yours. I think that's more intimate even than a kiss.
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