Amputees Quote by Angela Carter
“His contagious conviction that our love was unique and desperate infected me with an anxious sickness; soon we would learn to treat one another with the circumspect tenderness of comrades who are amputees, for we were surrounded by the most moving images of evanesecence, fireworks, morning glories, the old, children. But the most moving of these images were the intagible relfections of ourselves we saw in one another's eyes, reflections of nothing but appearances, in a city dedicated to seeming, and, try as we might to possess the essence of each other's otherness, we would inevitably fail.”
About This Quote
The narrator feels a deep, anxious love, seeing themselves reflected in others, yet recognizing the impossibility of fully grasping another's essence.
In simple terms: Love is both intimate and elusive.
Key Takeaway
Embrace connection while accepting mystery.
Themes
love
identity
reflection
impermanence
Mood
melancholic
introspective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- relationships
- artistic collaboration
- self‑discovery
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
literature
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “circumspect tenderness” mean to you?
- How do you balance intimacy and individuality?
A Different Perspective
Intense emotional language may alienate some readers.
