Anticipation Quote by Ian Mcewan
“The anticipation and dread he felt at seeing her was also a kind of sensual pleasure, and surrounding it, like an embrace, was a general elation--it might hurt, it was horribly inconvenient, no good might come of it, but he had found out for himself what it was to be in love, and it thrilled him.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Atonement, Ian McEwan, 2001
He describes love as a mix of excitement and anxiety, a painful yet exhilarating experience that reveals deep personal insight.
In simple terms: Love is thrilling but also painful.
Key Takeaway
Embrace love’s complexities to grow personally.
Themes
love
desire
emotion
Mood
intense
reflective
Type
literary
emotional
When to use this quote
- romantic relationships
- self‑reflection
- creative writing
Key Concepts
sensual pleasure
inner conflict
personal discovery
Questions to Reflect On
- How does anxiety shape our experience of love?
- Can love’s pain be a catalyst for personal growth?
A Different Perspective
Love can also cause lasting hurt and disappointment.
![“[It is hard to know what is good luck and what isn't and therefore whether we should be happy or sad about it. Only time will tell. For example...] The Talmud relates a story about two people who wanted to travel by boat. One broke his foot and was unable to make the trip, while his friend got on…” quote by Zelig Pliskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/68d/zelig-pliskin-22951_anticipation_it-is-hard-to-know-what-is-good-luck-and_34545.jpg)
![“The only thing is that ordinarily when I do dance with [women] they think I am suddenly going to throw them over a table or twist them all around. All I want to do is one-two, one-two-three - a simple fox trot. But they're shaking with anticipation at the thought that I'm about to whip them around…” quote by Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/073/gene-kelly-11878_anticipation_the-only-thing-is-that-ordinarily-when-i_44100.jpg)
