Christmas card Quote by Dennis Lehane
““Brendan Harris loved everyone now because he loved Katie and Katie loved him. Brendan loved traffic and smog and the sound of jackhammers. He loved his worthless old man who hadn't sent him a single birthday or Christmas card since he'd walked out on Brendan and his mother when Brendan was six. He loved Monday mornings, sitcoms that couldn't make a retard laugh, and standing in line at the RMV. He even loved his job, though he wouldn't be going in ever again.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: A Drink Before the War by Dennis Lehane, 1994
A character reflects on the paradox of loving many things despite personal hardships, highlighting complex emotional attachments.
In simple terms: Loving many things despite hardship.
Key Takeaway
Accept contradictions in love.
Themes
love
family
loss
contradiction
identity
Mood
bittersweet
reflective
Type
literary
character study
When to use this quote
- family conflict
- personal growth
- career change
- urban life
- grief
Key Concepts
psychology
human complexity
resilience
Questions to Reflect On
- What does loving contradictory things reveal about self?
- How can one reconcile love with pain?
A Different Perspective
Love may blind to self‑destructive patterns.
