One day" she told them, "when you have retired, you will…
“One day" she told them, "when you have retired, you will go to live with a family who will love you for your beauty and nothing more, and if you're very lucky there will be children, and the children will pet you and pet you and pet you. Ossin has a list, I think, of such children; he sends his hunting-staff out during the months they are not needed for that work, to look for them, and add names to the list." The fleethounds stared back at her with their enormous dark liquid eyes, and believed every word.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The promise of love and companionship is used to manipulate and control, reflecting how desire can be weaponized.
In simple terms: Love can be a tool for control.
Key Takeaway
Question the motives behind promises of affection.
Themes
love
manipulation
loneliness
control
Mood
cautionary
empathetic
Type
literary
psychological
When to use this quote
- relationships
- elder care
- marketing
- political propaganda
Key Concepts
dependency
trust
exploitation
Questions to Reflect On
- What signs indicate a promise is manipulative?
- How can one maintain agency in caring relationships?
A Different Perspective
Not all promises are sincere; power dynamics complicate trust.