Corpse Quote by Catherynne M. Valente
““But I can see that you are in pain, and that is the province of monsters. You drag your mother's corpse with you—it leaves a great furrow in the earth. If it is important enough to very rudely interrupt a woman who already owns two fingers she did not have this morning just to exhume those old bones, I will listen to you instead. It matters nothing to me. Believe me, it will not go easier for you if you come to feel warmly towards me because you have unburdened your soul. We have all the nights the world has ever made ahead of us. Speak of the dead in the dark, boy, and I will take her body from you, if you want to be rid of it.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Invention of Ghosts by Catherynne M. Valente, 2016
A speaker offers to relieve another’s burden of grief, acknowledging pain as a monster’s domain and promising release if desired.
In simple terms: Someone offers to help carry a heavy grief.
Key Takeaway
Accept help when you’re overwhelmed.
Themes
grief
compassion
burden
release
monsters
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
conversational
empathetic
When to use this quote
- funeral rites
- personal loss
- confessional moments
- therapeutic dialogue
Key Concepts
empathy
psychological relief
burden sharing
Questions to Reflect On
- What burden are you holding onto?
- How can you safely accept help?
A Different Perspective
The offer may be conditional, and the listener might still feel unresolved sorrow.
![“René of Anjou [(1409-80)] painted a picture of his mistress's corpse as he found it eaten by worms on having it [her tomb] openedon his return from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. This [is] another instance of the strange mixture of religion and gallantry in those ages.” quote by Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aba/horace-walpole-3357_age_ren-of-anjou-1409-80-painted-a-picture-o_33917.jpg)
