Later, early Christmas morning, I was still awake, and…
““Later, early Christmas morning, I was still awake, and Susan was asleep, on her back, with her mouth open slightly. I looked at her face. Her eyes moved slightly behind her eyelids. I watched her sleep; watched her while she dreamed in some remote incorporeal place away from me; watched her with the growing certainty that some of her would always be remote, away from me, unknowable, unobtainable, never mine. Watched her and thought these things and knew, as I could know nothing else so surely, that it didn’t matter.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Observing a loved one’s intimate, unknowable inner world highlights the inevitable distance between self and others, fostering acceptance of mystery.
In simple terms: We cannot fully know others; accept mystery.
Key Takeaway
Accept that some aspects of loved ones remain unknowable.
Themes
love
distance
intimacy
acceptance
Mood
thoughtful
melancholic
Type
literary
reflective
When to use this quote
- marriage
- parenting
- friendship
- grief counseling
Key Concepts
psychology
existentialism
relationships
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance intimacy with mystery?
- What does acceptance of unknowability change your relationships?
A Different Perspective
Believing we can fully know others can cause disappointment.