Love Quote by Clive Barker
““If one has given oneself utterly, watching the beloved sleep can be a vile experience. Perhaps some of you have known that paralysis, staring down at features closed to your enquiry, locked away from you where you can never, ever go, into the other’s mind. As I say, for us who have given ourselves, that is a horror. One knows, in those moments, that one does not exist, except in relation to that face, that personality. Therefore, when that face is closed down, that personality is lost in its own unknowable world, one feels completely without purpose. A planet without a sun, revolving in darkness.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Thief of Always, 1992
Intense intimacy can feel terrifying when the beloved is inaccessible, leading to existential emptiness.
In simple terms: Missing a loved one can feel like a loss of purpose.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and address feelings of emptiness.
Themes
love
existential dread
identity
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- grief counseling
- relationship therapy
- creative writing
- mindfulness practice
Key Concepts
psychology
attachment theory
loneliness
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you cope when emotional connection feels impossible?
- What restores purpose after loss?
A Different Perspective
May not apply universally; some find solitude enriching.
