Being there Quote by Gary D. Schmidt
“Maybe the first time that you know you really care about something is when you think about it not being there,and when you know-you really know-that the emptinessis as much as inside you as outside you.For it falls out,that what we have we prize not to the worth whiles we enjoy it;but being lacked and lost,why,then we rack the value,then we find the virtue that possesion would not show us while it was ours.That's when I knew for the first time that I really did love my sister.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt, 2007
Realizing love often follows the awareness of its possible loss, highlighting how absence reveals true value.
In simple terms: We notice love when we imagine life without it.
Key Takeaway
Cherish relationships before they’re gone.
Themes
family
appreciation
loss
reflection
Mood
nostalgic
thoughtful
Type
personal
reflective
When to use this quote
- missing a loved one
- reflecting on relationships
- writing a gratitude letter
Key Concepts
attachment
impermanence
value
Questions to Reflect On
- How might you value someone without imagining their loss?
- What everyday moments remind you of love’s presence?
A Different Perspective
The quote may over‑romanticize loss as the sole path to appreciation.
