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You know what my mum once said?’ said Rosie… ‘She said that if a just-married couple put a coin in a jar every time they make love in their first year, and take a coin out for every time that they make love in the years that follow, the jar will never be emptied.’ And this means…?’ Well’, she said. ‘It’s interesting, isn’t it?
Neil Gaiman
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote highlights the idea that the initial passion in a relationship can be unmatched, suggesting that over time, love may require effort to maintain.

In this quote, Rosie recalls her mother's wisdom about marriage, indicating that the first year of love is often filled with passion and intimacy, symbolized by the coins added to a jar. However, as time goes on, the frequency of intimacy may decline, represented by coins being taken out. This suggests that while the early stages of a relationship may be abundant in affection, sustaining love requires continued effort and investment.

Themes

LoveMarriageIntimacyRelationshipEffort

In practice

Example use cases

During a wedding speech to highlight the importance of nurturing love over time.

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