Happiness and love Quote by Daphne du Maurier
““Had I known, that last hour sitting there, talking and laughing about trivial things, that there was a clot forming like a time bomb close to his heart, ready to explode, I would surely have behaved differently, held on to him, at least thanked him for all my nineteen years of happiness and love. Not flipped over the photographs in the album, mocking bygone fashions, nor yawned halfway through, so that, sensing boredom, he let the album drop to the floor and murmured, “Don’t bother about me, pet, I’ll have a kip.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, 1938
The narrator regrets not appreciating a loved one more while he was alive, realizing missed moments and words after his death.
In simple terms: Regret for not cherishing a dying loved one.
Value time with loved ones now.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- family gatherings
- end‑of‑life care
- personal reminiscence
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How might you show appreciation today?
- What small gestures could deepen connections?
Acknowledgment of past actions does not change outcomes.