--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It seems right now that all I’ve ever…" description: "\"“It seems right now that all I’ve ever done in my life is making my way here to you.’ I could see that Rosie could not place the line from The Bridges ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a08/graeme-simsion-3122_big-changes_it-seems-right-now-that-all-i-ve-ever-do_2138640.jpg" --- # It seems right now that all I’ve ever done in my life is… ![“It seems right now that all I’ve ever done in my life is making my way here to you.’ I could see that Rosie could not place the line from The Bridges of Madison County that had produced such a powerful emotional reaction on the plane. She looked confused. ‘Don, what are you…what have you done to…” quote by Graeme Simsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a08/graeme-simsion-3122_big-changes_it-seems-right-now-that-all-i-ve-ever-do_2138640.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a08/graeme-simsion-3122_big-changes_it-seems-right-now-that-all-i-ve-ever-do_2138640.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a08/graeme-simsion-3122_big-changes_it-seems-right-now-that-all-i-ve-ever-do_2138640.jpg) > ““It seems right now that all I’ve ever done in my life is making my way here to you.’ I could see that Rosie could not place the line from The Bridges of Madison County that had produced such a powerful emotional reaction on the plane. She looked confused. ‘Don, what are you…what have you done to yourself?’ ‘I’ve made some changes.’ ‘Big changes.’ ‘Whatever behavioural modifications you require from me are a trivial price to pay for having you as my partner.’ Rosie made a downwards movement with her hand, which I could not interpret. Then she looked around the room and I followed her eyes. Everyone was watching. Nick had stopped partway to our table. I realised that in my intensity I had raised my voice. I didn’t care. ‘You are the world’s most perfect woman. All other women are irrelevant. Permanently. No Botox or implants will be required. ‘I need a minute to think,’ she said. I automatically started the timer on my watch. Suddenly Rosie started laughing. I looked at her, understandably puzzled at this outburst in the middle of a critical life decision. ‘The watch,’ she said. ‘I say “I need a minute” and you start timing. Don is not dead. 'Don, you don’t feel love, do you?’ said Rosie. ‘You can’t really love me.’ ‘Gene diagnosed love.’ I knew now that he had been wrong. I had watched thirteen romantic movies and felt nothing. That was not strictly true. I had felt suspense, curiosity and amusement. But I had not for one moment felt engaged in the love between the protagonists. I had cried no tears for Meg Ryan or Meryl Streep or Deborah Kerr or Vivien Leigh or Julia Roberts. I could not lie about so important a matter. ‘According to your definition, no.’ Rosie looked extremely unhappy. The evening had turned into a disaster. 'I thought my behaviour would make you happy, and instead it’s made you sad.’ ‘I’m upset because you can’t love me. Okay?’ This was worse! She wanted me to love her. And I was incapable. Gene and Claudia offered me a lift home, but I did not want to continue the conversation. I started walking, then accelerated to a jog. It made sense to get home before it rained. It also made sense to exercise hard and put the restaurant behind me as quickly as possible. The new shoes were workable, but the coat and tie were uncomfortable even on a cold night. I pulled off the jacket, the item that had made me temporarily acceptable in a world to which I did not belong, and threw it in a rubbish bin. The tie followed. On an impulse I retrieved the Daphne from the jacket and carried it in my hand for the remainder of the journey. There was rain in the air and my face was wet as I reached the safety of my apartment.”” [Graeme Simsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A man attempts to control love through logic, only to realize genuine connection cannot be engineered **In simple terms:** Love cannot be reduced to formulas Key Takeaway Embrace spontaneity in relationships Themes logic love miscommunication expectations Mood conflicted humorous insightful Type fictional romantic When to use this quote - dating - conflict resolution - personal growth - relationship counseling Key Concepts behavioral economics emotional intelligence authenticity Questions to Reflect On - What does “big changes” truly mean in love? - Can love be measured by price or effort? A Different Perspective The narrator’s extreme rationalization may overlook the value of emotional vulnerability ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big changes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-changes/) [Cold night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold-night/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-decision/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Perfect woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-woman/) ## Related quotes > [“I need a minute to think,” she said. I automatically started the timer on my watch. Suddenly Rosie started laughing. I looked at her,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/i-need-a-minute-to-think-she-said-i-automatically-started-the-timer/) [Graeme Simsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/) > [“I need to talk to you in private,” I said to Rosie. She looked at me very directly. “I don’t think there’s anything we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/i-need-to-talk-to-you-in-private-i-said-to-rosie-she-looked-at-me/) [Graeme Simsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/) > [“I have never heard of the Wife Project. But I’m about to. In detail.’ ‘Of course,’ I said. ‘But we should time-share it with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/i-have-never-heard-of-the-wife-project-but-i-m-about-to-in-detail-of/) [Graeme Simsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/) > [“Boy or girl?’ said Rosie. ‘Male, I think.’ I checked my message. ‘No, female.’ It was a detail that could have waited. It would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/boy-or-girl-said-rosie-male-i-think-i-checked-my-message-no-female-it/) [Graeme Simsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/) > [“But I’m not good at understanding what other people want.’ ‘Tell me something I don’t know,’ said Rosie for no obvious reason. I quickly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/but-i-m-not-good-at-understanding-what-other-people-want-tell-me/) [Graeme Simsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/) > [You’re unbelievable,’ said Rosie. ‘Look at me when I’m talking.’ I kept looking out the window. I was already over-stimulated. ‘I know what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/you-re-unbelievable-said-rosie-look-at-me-when-i-m-talking-i-kept/) [Graeme Simsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/) > [“You’d better not let me down,” said Rosie. “I’m expecting constant craziness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/you-d-better-not-let-me-down-said-rosie-i-m-expecting-constant/) [Graeme Simsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/) > [If wives or girlfriends are knowledgeable about sports, it only benefits their relationships. It's all about give-and-take negotiations, like saying, 'I'll see 'Unforgiven' if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-long/if-wives-or-girlfriends-are-knowledgeable-about-sports-it-only/) [Howie Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-long/) > [In my 20s, my mom and I went and saw the bridges of Madison County, which are in Iowa, and I had seen that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lissie/in-my-20s-my-mom-and-i-went-and-saw-the-bridges-of-madison-county/) [Lissie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lissie/) > [Once a person knows a kiss and a kind word, you can't blame him for never wanting to live without them again. - "The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-james-waller/once-a-person-knows-a-kiss-and-a-kind-word-you-can-t-blame-him-for/) [Robert James Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-james-waller/) > [“One of the nastier trends in library management in recent years is the notion that libraries should be "responsive to their patrons." This means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-willis/one-of-the-nastier-trends-in-library-management-in-recent-years-is-2/) [Connie Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-willis/) > [But professionally I've never felt as strongly about a project, with the exception of 'The Bridges of Madison County', as 'The Light in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pasquale/but-professionally-i-ve-never-felt-as-strongly-about-a-project-with/) [Steven Pasquale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pasquale/) > [“Mistake good because you learn, you fix.” “I don’t know how,” said Rosie. “Middle way.” “At home, there is no middle way. You’re male…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-frankel/mistake-good-because-you-learn-you-fix-i-don-t-know-how-said-rosie/) [Laurie Frankel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-frankel/) > [You know what my mum once said?’ said Rosie… ‘She said that if a just-married couple put a coin in a jar every time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-know-what-my-mum-once-said-said-rosie-she-said-that-if-a-just/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“I don’t have any family,” he said to Rosie, almost petulantly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-don-t-have-any-family-he-said-to-rosie-almost-petulantly/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## More by Graeme Simsion > [“My questionnaire would be ruthless in filtering out women who were concerned with appearance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/my-questionnaire-would-be-ruthless-in-filtering-out-women-who-were/) [Graeme Simsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/) > [“I decided that ten positions would be sufficient initially. More could be learned if the initial encounter was successful. It did not take long—less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/i-decided-that-ten-positions-would-be-sufficient-initially-more-could/) [Graeme Simsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/) > [“Fault! Asperger’s isn’t a fault. It’s a variant. It’s potentially a major advantage. Asperger’s syndrome is associated with organization, focus, innovative thinking, and rational…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/fault-asperger-s-isn-t-a-fault-it-s-a-variant-it-s-potentially-a/) [Graeme Simsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/) > [I feel I've done the 10,000 hours you have to do to get good at something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/i-feel-i-ve-done-the-10-000-hours-you-have-to-do-to-get-good-at/) [Graeme Simsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/) > [Research consistently shows that the risks to health outweigh the benefits of drinking alcohol. My argument is that the benefits to my mental health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/research-consistently-shows-that-the-risks-to-health-outweigh-the/) [Graeme Simsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/) > [“When I returned, wearing an uncomfortably large white shirt, with a decorative frill in the front, I tried to introduce the Wife Project, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/when-i-returned-wearing-an-uncomfortably-large-white-shirt-with-a/) [Graeme Simsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/) > [I am a big advocate of the role of the bookstore in the community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/i-am-a-big-advocate-of-the-role-of-the-bookstore-in-the-community/) [Graeme Simsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/) > [“I need a minute to think,” she said. I automatically started the timer on my watch. Suddenly Rosie started laughing. I looked at her,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/i-need-a-minute-to-think-she-said-i-automatically-started-the-timer/) [Graeme Simsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/) > [“I would normally have scheduled my driving time according to published studies on fatigue and booked accommodation accordingly. But I had been too busy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/i-would-normally-have-scheduled-my-driving-time-according-to/) [Graeme Simsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/) > [“used the precise speed indication on the GPS to set the cruise control to the exact speed limit, rather than relying on the artificially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/used-the-precise-speed-indication-on-the-gps-to-set-the-cruise/) [Graeme Simsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/) > [“In the last eight weeks I had experienced two of the three best times of my adult life, assuming all visits to the Museum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/in-the-last-eight-weeks-i-had-experienced-two-of-the-three-best-times/) [Graeme Simsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/) > [“Asperger's isn't a fault. It's a variant. It's potentially a major advantage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/asperger-s-isn-t-a-fault-it-s-a-variant-it-s-potentially-a-major/) [Graeme Simsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/) > [“I could no longer be equated with the Virgin Mary. I had been corrupted. I was like everyone else. My stone-casting credibility had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/i-could-no-longer-be-equated-with-the-virgin-mary-i-had-been/) [Graeme Simsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/) > [“Once a week, in order to deal with the demands of living with another person, and to continue to improve my skills in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/once-a-week-in-order-to-deal-with-the-demands-of-living-with-another/) [Graeme Simsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/) > [“Nothing would change the fault in my brain that made me unacceptable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/nothing-would-change-the-fault-in-my-brain-that-made-me-unacceptable/) [Graeme Simsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/) [Explore all 138 Graeme Simsion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/) ## More Big changes quotes > [As we get more transparent with data sets about infrastructure and systems management, I have a feeling we'll see big changes in how we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-koblin/as-we-get-more-transparent-with-data-sets-about-infrastructure-and/) [Aaron Koblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-koblin/) > [I feel everything more deeply. Every action I take, I think of her first. That's a big change for me. That - and no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-dewan/i-feel-everything-more-deeply-every-action-i-take-i-think-of-her/) [Jenna Dewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-dewan/) > [The Iraqi troops and the Iraqi fighters are in control of all the places, as we have witnessed, no big change in that. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/the-iraqi-troops-and-the-iraqi-fighters-are-in-control-of-all-the/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [Big changes like creating nutritious school food and adjusting the eating habits of children takes an organized effort from an entire community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-rosenthal/big-changes-like-creating-nutritious-school-food-and-adjusting-the/) [Joshua Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-rosenthal/) > [With 'Crucible,' any big changes I wanted to make I only had to run by Lucasfilm, not other authors whose stories I might affect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-denning/with-crucible-any-big-changes-i-wanted-to-make-i-only-had-to-run-by/) [Troy Denning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-denning/) > [“continues: For Kit, the Depression has brought big changes: a houseful of boarders, tons of chores, and no birthday party. But when Kit’s taste…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-tripp/continues-for-kit-the-depression-has-brought-big-changes-a-houseful/) Valerie Tripp > [It was definitely a big change in my life going from the college scene to really kind of being on my own. I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-horton/it-was-definitely-a-big-change-in-my-life-going-from-the-college/) [Jonathan Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-horton/) > [One of the big changes in the Congress since I first came to Washington is that all of these folks go home every weekend.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-gates/one-of-the-big-changes-in-the-congress-since-i-first-came-to/) [Robert M. Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-gates/) > [I never really have any major resolutions. I do try to be a good person, to be a good mom, to be a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-klum/i-never-really-have-any-major-resolutions-i-do-try-to-be-a-good/) [Heidi Klum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-klum/) > [“Many of the big changes of the next 25 years will come from unknowns working in their bedrooms and garages...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-leadbeater/many-of-the-big-changes-of-the-next-25-years-will-come-from-unknowns/) [Charles Leadbeater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-leadbeater/) > [In terms of getting people to experiment more and take more risk, there are at least three things that immediately come to my mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/in-terms-of-getting-people-to-experiment-more-and-take-more-risk/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [“Ask yourself: what was the most influential discovery, invention or creation of the twentieth century? That’s a difficult question, because it is hard to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/ask-yourself-what-was-the-most-influential-discovery-invention-or/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [There are moments in your life when the big pieces slide and shift. Sometimes the big changes dong happen gradually but all at once.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/there-are-moments-in-your-life-when-the-big-pieces-slide-and-shift/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [I was very, very thrown by the fact that I had to make some big changes in my life in order to be myself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-was-very-very-thrown-by-the-fact-that-i-had-to-make-some-big/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [There are good people, who are in politics - in both parties - who hold this at arm's length, because if they acknowledge it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/there-are-good-people-who-are-in-politics-in-both-parties-who-hold/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) [Browse all 106 Big changes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-changes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It seems right now that all I’ve ever done in my life is making my way here to you.’ I could see that Rosie could not place the line from The Bridges of Madison County that had produced such a powerful emotional reaction on the plane. She looked confused. ‘Don, what are you…what have you done to yourself?’ ‘I’ve made some changes.’ ‘Big changes.’ ‘Whatever behavioural modifications you require from me are a trivial price to pay for having you as my partner.’ Rosie made a downwards movement with her hand, which I could not interpret. Then she looked around the room and I followed her eyes. Everyone was watching. Nick had stopped partway to our table. I realised that in my intensity I had raised my voice. I didn’t care. ‘You are the world’s most perfect woman. All other women are irrelevant. Permanently. No Botox or implants will be required. ‘I need a minute to think,’ she said. I automatically started the timer on my watch. Suddenly Rosie started laughing. I looked at her, understandably puzzled at this outburst in the middle of a critical life decision. ‘The watch,’ she said. ‘I say “I need a minute” and you start timing. Don is not dead. 'Don, you don’t feel love, do you?’ said Rosie. ‘You can’t really love me.’ ‘Gene diagnosed love.’ I knew now that he had been wrong. I had watched thirteen romantic movies and felt nothing. That was not strictly true. I had felt suspense, curiosity and amusement. But I had not for one moment felt engaged in the love between the protagonists. I had cried no tears for Meg Ryan or Meryl Streep or Deborah Kerr or Vivien Leigh or Julia Roberts. I could not lie about so important a matter. ‘According to your definition, no.’ Rosie looked extremely unhappy. The evening had turned into a disaster. 'I thought my behaviour would make you happy, and instead it’s made you sad.’ ‘I’m upset because you can’t love me. Okay?’ This was worse! She wanted me to love her. And I was incapable. Gene and Claudia offered me a lift home, but I did not want to continue the conversation. I started walking, then accelerated to a jog. It made sense to get home before it rained. It also made sense to exercise hard and put the restaurant behind me as quickly as possible. The new shoes were workable, but the coat and tie were uncomfortable even on a cold night. I pulled off the jacket, the item that had made me temporarily acceptable in a world to which I did not belong, and threw it in a rubbish bin. The tie followed. On an impulse I retrieved the Daphne from the jacket and carried it in my hand for the remainder of the journey. There was rain in the air and my face was wet as I reached the safety of my apartment.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Graeme Simsion" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/it-seems-right-now-that-all-i-ve-ever-done-in-my-life-is-making-my-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Big changes" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/it-seems-right-now-that-all-i-ve-ever-done-in-my-life-is-making-my-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a08/graeme-simsion-3122_big-changes_it-seems-right-now-that-all-i-ve-ever-do_2138640.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a08/graeme-simsion-3122_big-changes_it-seems-right-now-that-all-i-ve-ever-do_2138640.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a08/graeme-simsion-3122_big-changes_it-seems-right-now-that-all-i-ve-ever-do_2138640.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It seems right now that all I’ve ever done in my life is making my way here to you.’ I could see that Rosie…” — Graeme Simsion", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Graeme Simsion", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It seems right now that all...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/it-seems-right-now-that-all-i-ve-ever-done-in-my-life-is-making-my-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/it-seems-right-now-that-all-i-ve-ever-done-in-my-life-is-making-my-2/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```