Writing for children is bloody difficult; books for children are as complex as their adult counterparts, and they should therefore be accorded the same respect.
Mark HaddonRead
And Father said, "Christopher, do you understand that I love you?" And I said "Yes," because loving someone is helping them when they get into trouble, and looking after them, and telling them the truth, and Father looks after me when I get into trouble, like coming to the police station, and he looks after me by cooking meals for me, and he always tells me the truth, which means that he loves me.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Love is demonstrated through support, truthfulness, and care.
This quote reflects the essence of love as an active commitment to care for someone. It emphasizes that true love manifests in actions such as providing support in difficult times, being honest, and fulfilling basic needs, highlighting that love is not just a feeling but also a series of tangible acts that confirm one's affection and care for another person.
Themes
LoveSupportTruthCareFamily
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote in a speech about family values.
More from Mark Haddon
All quotes →As to the number of novels I've abandoned... I shudder to think. I have thrown away five completed novels, and that's a gruesome enough figure. But not necessarily a waste of effort.
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At twenty life was like wrestling an octopus. Every moment mattered. At thirty it was a walk in the country. Most of the time your mind was somewhere else. By the time you got to seventy, it was probably like watching snooker on the telly.
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From a good book, I want to be taken to the very edge. I want a glimpse into that outer darkness.
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And I know I can do this because I went to London on my own, and because I solved the mystery…and I was brave and I wrote a book and that means I can do anything.
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At 20, 25, 30, we begin to realise that the possibilities of escape are getting fewer. We have jobs, children, partners, debts. This is the part of us to which literary fiction speaks.
Mark HaddonRead
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