We burned with love for ourselves, all of us, starters of the fire we suffered- our love was the affliction for which only our love was the cure.
Jonathan Safran FoerRead
It made me start to wonder if there were other people so lonely so close. I thought about “Eleanor Rigby.” It’s true, where do they all come from? And where do they all belong?
Interpretation
This quote reflects on the loneliness experienced by individuals in a crowded world.
In this quote, Jonathan Safran Foer explores the theme of loneliness and the existential question of belonging. The reference to 'Eleanor Rigby,' a character from a song by The Beatles, highlights the plight of those who may seem surrounded by others yet feel isolated. It prompts readers to consider the hidden struggles of people in their proximity and raises questions about community and connection in a modern society.
In practice
In a discussion about mental health, you could share this quote to highlight the hidden struggles of individuals.
We burned with love for ourselves, all of us, starters of the fire we suffered- our love was the affliction for which only our love was the cure.
Memory was supposed to fill the time, but it made time a hole to be filled. Each second was two hundred yards, to be walked, crawled. You couldn't see the next hour, it was so far in the distance. Tomorrow was over the horizon, and would take an entire day to reach.
She was not crying Which surprised me very much But I understand now That she had found places For her melancholy That were behind more masks Than only her eyes
What do babies dream of? She must be dreaming of the before-life, just as I dream of the afterlife.
A few weeks after the worst day, I started writing lots of letters. I don't know why, but it was one of the only things that made my boots lighter.
What is being awake if not interpreting our dreams, or dreaming if not interpreting our wake?
Discriminating against same-sex couples just isn't right.
It's very rare to have a patient who isn't absolutely delighted when you say, 'I read your feedback. The session didn't go well. You actually got more upset, and I made about three really horrible errors.' If you do that from the heart and not as a gimmick, boy, it's a wonderful thing.
Coming closer to home, there is so much of jealousy, pride, arrogance, and carping criticism; fathers who rise in anger over small, inconsequential things and make wives weep and children fear.
Man survives earthquakes, epidemics, the horrors of disease, and all the agonies of the soul, but for all time his tormenting tragedy is, and will be, the tragedy of the bedroom.
The idea is to go to bed every night with fewer enemies than you had in the morning.
Most men fear getting laughed at or humiliated by a romantic prospect while most women fear rape and death.
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