Elphaba Quote by Gregory Maguire
““Why should I keep myself so safe?” he asked her, but he was almost asking himself. What is there in my life worth preserving? With a good wife back there in the mountains, serviceable as an old spoon, dry in the heart from having been scared of marriage since she was six? With three children so shy of their father, the Prince of the Arjikis, that they will hardly come near him? With a careworn clan moving here, moving there, going through th same disputes, herding the same herds, as thy have done for five hundred years? And me, with a shallow and undirected mind, no artfulness in word or habit, no especial kindness toward the world? What is there that makes my life worth preserving? “I love you,” said Elphaba. “So that’s that then, and that’s it,” he answered her and himself. “And I love you. So I promise to be careful.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Wicked, 1995
A character questions the value of his life amidst familial and societal burdens, finding purpose through love and promise.
In simple terms: Life’s worth is found in love and commitment.
Key Takeaway
Embrace love, protect what matters.
Themes
existential doubt
family
love
purpose
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- marriage counseling
- parenting
- personal crises
Key Concepts
meaning of life
self‑reflection
relationships
Questions to Reflect On
- What truly gives your life meaning?
- How can you balance duty with personal fulfillment?
A Different Perspective
Love alone may not resolve deeper existential emptiness.
