Love Quote by David Foster Wallace
““And a funny thing happens. The man begins to like the Thermos woman. Not love, but like, which is something the man has never experienced before, and finds different, because it involves directing a lot more emotional attention to the actual other person than the old uncontrollable passionate love had involved, involves caring about the whole other person, including the facets and features that have nothing whatsoever to do with the man.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Infinite Jest, David Foster Wallace, 1996
The narrator discovers a new, attentive form of affection that focuses on caring for the whole person, not just passionate desire.
In simple terms: A different kind of love that values the whole person.
Key Takeaway
Embrace attentive, caring relationships.
Themes
relationships
empathy
growth
Mood
thoughtful
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- friendships
- romantic partnerships
- personal development
- therapy
- caregiving
Key Concepts
attachment
attention
emotional intelligence
Questions to Reflect On
- How does attentive care differ from passion?
- What risks arise when you focus intensely on another’s whole self?
A Different Perspective
May overlook personal boundaries or become overly self-sacrificing.
![“All [Sadie’s] previous attempts [of making a shabti (an Egyptian avatar of one’s self)] had exploded or gone haywire, terrorizing Khufu and the initiates. Last week she’d created a magical Thermos with googly eyes that levitated around the room, yelling, “Exterminate! Exterminate!” until it…” quote by Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cf1/rick-riordan-27_egyptian_all-sadie-s-previous-attempts-of-making_2736664.jpg)
