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About Quote by David Foster Wallace

“We're kind of wishing some parents would come back. And of course we're uneasy about the fact that we wish they'd come back - I mean, what's wrong with us?” quote by David Foster Wallace
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“We're kind of wishing some parents would come back. And of course we're uneasy about the fact that we wish they'd come back - I mean, what's wrong with us?”

David Foster Wallace

About This Quote

Source Interview: The David Foster Wallace Archive, 2005

A yearning for absent parental figures reveals our discomfort with dependence and loss.

In simple terms: Missing parents cause uneasy longing.

Key Takeaway

Accept and process longing without guilt.

Themes

family longing dependence guilt acceptance

Mood

reflective melancholic introspective

Type

personal psychological literary

When to use this quote

  • grieving a parent
  • seeking guidance
  • reflecting on childhood
  • coping with loss

Key Concepts

attachment theory psychological yearning nostalgia

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does longing shape your adult relationships?
  • What can you learn from this yearning?
A Different Perspective

The quote may romanticize absence, ignoring the benefits of self‑reliance.

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