Writing Quote by Amy Hempel
““I read about a famous mystery writer who worked for one week in a department store. One day she saw a woman come in and buy a doll. The mystery writer found out the woman’s name, and took a bus to New Jersey to see where the woman lived. That was all. Years later, she referred to this woman as the love of her life. It is possible to imagine a person so entirely that the image resists attempts to dislodge it.””
About This Quote
Source Short Story: “The Man Who Liked Dickens” in the collection “At the Gates of the Garden,” 1995
An obsessive fixation on a stranger can become an idealized love, persisting despite reality.
In simple terms: Obsessive fixation becomes ideal love.
Key Takeaway
Question the reality of idealized attachments.
Themes
obsession
idealization
memory
Mood
melancholy
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- reading
- unrequited love
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
psychology of love
subjective reality
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this fixation reveal about your own desires?
- How can you differentiate genuine connection from imagined love?
A Different Perspective
May romanticize unrealistic expectations.
