Cancer is a growth hormone for empathy, and empathy makes us useful to each other in ways we were not, could not have been, before.
Kelly CorriganRead
We'll bury our mothers and fathers - shuttling our children off for sleepovers, jumping on red-eyes, telling eachother stories that hurt to hear, about gasping, agonal breaths, hospice nurses, scars and bruises and scabs, and how skin papers shortly after a person passes. We will nod in agreement that it is as much an honor to witness a person leave this world as it is to watch a person come into it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the bittersweet cycle of life, acknowledging both the pain of losing loved ones and the honor of witnessing their journey.
In this poignant quote, Kelly Corrigan explores the inevitable experience of loss and the intertwined nature of life and death. She illustrates the emotional toll that comes with losing our parents while also recognizing the profound honor it is to witness both the arrival and departure of a soul. The imagery evokes a sense of shared human experience, highlighting how deeply we connect through grief and remembrance, ultimately suggesting that both ends of life are sacred moments deserving of reflection and respect.
Themes
LifeDeathGriefLossHonorFamily
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared at a memorial to honor the deceased and comfort the grieving family.
More from Kelly Corrigan
All quotes →Similar quotes
. . .my dreams are the single unpredictable factor in my zoned days and nights. Nobody allots them, or censors them. Dreams are all I have ever truly owned.
David MitchellRead
This cabin, Mary, in my sight appears,_x000D_ _x000D_ Built as it has been in our waning years,_x000D_ _x000D_ A rest afforded to our weary feet,_x000D_ _x000D_ Preliminary to - the last retreat.
William CowperRead
Whether it’s food or women, the ones on front street are supermodels. Big hair, big tits, big trouble, but the one you come home to is probably something like cavatelli and red sauce. She’s not screaming for attention because she knows she’s good enough even if your dumb ass hasn’t figured it out yet.
Eddie HuangRead
I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.
Eric RothRead
The modern mocha is a bittersweet concoction of imperialism, genocide, invention, and consumerism served with whipped cream on top
Sarah VowellRead
There is no need to waste pity on young girls who are having their moments of disillusionment, for in another moment they will recover their illusion.
Sidonie Gabrielle ColetteRead