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
For children love is a feeling; for adults, it is a decision. Children wait to learn if their love is true by seeing how long it lasts; adults make their love true by never wavering from their commitment.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Children experience love as an emotion, while adults view it as a commitment involving conscious choices.
This quote by Orson Scott Card contrasts the nature of love as perceived by children and adults. Children often understand love as a fleeting feeling, dependent on circumstances and how long someone can maintain that affection. In contrast, adults recognize that love involves deeper commitment and effort, choosing to remain devoted to their partner regardless of challenges, thereby making their love last through conscious decisions rather than passive experiences.
Themes
LoveCommitmentChildrenAdultsFeelingsDecisions
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a relationship workshop to illustrate different perspectives on love.
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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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