Loneliness Quote by Arthur Nersesian
““I had grazed along the surface of her actions and made deep judgments. Rejecting someone because you couldn't understand their love, that was a new one. The more I thought about it the longer the shadow of doubt stretched over all my conclusions. More often than not, things were as they seemed. But as I stared at her, she wasn't as bad looking as I had once thought. I realized how all this time I had seen her the wrong way, and how one's character affects one's appearance. Although she wasn't my type she was attractive. As I thought about her - the vulnerable intelligence, the violent honesty, and the fact that in the entire city she was the only one who took me in and fed me - she became more and more irresistible. Baited by an obscure beauty, trapped by an intense sorrow - all prior definitions had been overruled: this was love.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Last Days of New York by Arthur Nersesian, 1995
A narrator revises his judgment of a woman, realizing attraction can arise from vulnerability and kindness, overturning earlier prejudice.
In simple terms: He sees her differently, feeling love despite initial bias.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how empathy reshapes attraction.
Themes
love
perception
prejudice
vulnerability
redemption
Mood
reflective
hopeful
Type
romantic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- first encounters
- romantic interest
- self‑reflection
- changing opinions
Key Concepts
psychology
human connection
bias correction
Questions to Reflect On
- What assumptions about people limit your connections?
- How does vulnerability influence desire?
A Different Perspective
Attraction may be based on fleeting feelings rather than lasting compatibility.
![“She was utterly unlike what she had been when he first saw her. Both morally and physically she had changed for the worse. [...] He looked at her as a man looks at a faded flower he has gathered, with difficulty recognizing in it the beauty for which he picked and ruined it.” quote by Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ba3/leo-tolstoy-55_humanity_she-was-utterly-unlike-what-she-had-been_2131592.jpg)
