I grieve to think that closeness requires some measure of…
““I grieve to think that closeness requires some measure of distance as its preserver, if only as a safety measure, because it certainly seems as if connection, in a deeper sense, introduces a specter of estrangement; for to come into contact with someone is to change her—there is that certainty; it reminds me of a game that Robin told me about told me about one day after school, as we were walking down Annatta Road certainly twenty years ago: find a word, a familiar word, on a page, and then stare at it for a while, just let your eyes linger upon it; and soon enough, sometimes after no more than a few seconds, the word comes to look misspelled, or badly transcribed, or as if there are other things wrong with it; so I tried it once, with the most familiar word there is: love, first verb in the Latin primer, the word known to all men; and after no more than five seconds I could swear that it wasn't the same word I had always known: it looked odd, misshapen, and as if it had all kinds of different pronunciations, except the one I had always believed was correct, and had always used; and so there was dissonance...””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Close relationships need a protective distance; intimacy can unintentionally alter the other, creating a subtle estrangement.
In simple terms: Intimacy can change people, creating distance.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and respect personal space in relationships.
Themes
intimacy
change
estrangement
distance
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
observational
When to use this quote
- romantic partnership
- friendship
- family gatherings
- collaborative projects
Key Concepts
psychology
relational dynamics
perception
Questions to Reflect On
- How does distance protect intimacy?
- Can change be embraced without fear?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on distance may hinder deep connection.