--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Somewhere in the world there was a young…" description: "\"Somewhere in the world there was a young woman with such splendid understanding that she'd see him entire, like a poem or story, and find his words so ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1b/john-barth-5311_apprehension_somewhere-in-the-world-there-was-a-young_1496954.jpg" --- # Somewhere in the world there was a young woman with such… ![“Somewhere in the world there was a young woman with such splendid understanding that she'd see him entire, like a poem or story, and find his words so valuable after all that when he confessed his apprehensions she would explain why they were in fact the very things that made him precious to…” quote by John Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1b/john-barth-5311_apprehension_somewhere-in-the-world-there-was-a-young_1496954.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1b/john-barth-5311_apprehension_somewhere-in-the-world-there-was-a-young_1496954.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1b/john-barth-5311_apprehension_somewhere-in-the-world-there-was-a-young_1496954.jpg) > “Somewhere in the world there was a young woman with such splendid understanding that she'd see him entire, like a poem or story, and find his words so valuable after all that when he confessed his apprehensions she would explain why they were in fact the very things that made him precious to her...and to Western Civilization! There was no such girl, the simple truth being.” [John Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barth/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes an idealized lover who values a partner’s flaws as essential to their worth, reflecting on cultural ideals. **In simple terms:** Flaws make a person precious. Key Takeaway Appreciate imperfections in loved ones. Themes love perception culture self‑acceptance Mood reflective hopeful Type literary romantic When to use this quote - romantic relationships - self‑esteem - cultural critique - personal growth Key Concepts humanism romantic idealism Questions to Reflect On - How do you value imperfections? - What cultural narratives shape your love ideals? A Different Perspective Idealization may ignore realistic challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apprehension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apprehension/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Simple truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple-truth/) [Simple truths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple-truths/) [Splendid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/splendid/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Western](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western/) [Western civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western-civilization/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Young woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-woman/) [Young women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-women/) ## Related quotes > [Those things that are precious are saved only by sacrifice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kenyon-webster/those-things-that-are-precious-are-saved-only-by-sacrifice/) [David Kenyon Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kenyon-webster/) > [“Colt looked at her and said, “The only things precious in life breathe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/colt-looked-at-her-and-said-the-only-things-precious-in-life-breathe/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [Some things are more precious because they don't last long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/some-things-are-more-precious-because-they-don-t-last-long/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The art of our necessities is strange That can make vile things precious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-art-of-our-necessities-is-strange-that-can-make-vile-things/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Often, the little things we do for others are the most precious to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ces-peta/often-the-little-things-we-do-for-others-are-the-most-precious-to-them/) [Ces Peta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ces-peta/) > [“Sometimes the beauty of something is created by time and experiences, and those things are often more precious to those who look hard enough,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-megan-varnadore/sometimes-the-beauty-of-something-is-created-by-time-and-experiences/) [Jennifer Megan Varnadore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-megan-varnadore/) > [“The little room was full of ordinary things that had already become precious, that I couldn't help but want to have again, to feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-mcclure/the-little-room-was-full-of-ordinary-things-that-had-already-become/) [Wendy McClure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-mcclure/) > [Those things which are precious are saved only by sacrifice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kenyon-webster/those-things-which-are-precious-are-saved-only-by-sacrifice/) [David Kenyon Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kenyon-webster/) > [I became a very simple person. The simple things are the most precious to me. I don't ascribe much significance to the things I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yossi-ghinsberg/i-became-a-very-simple-person-the-simple-things-are-the-most-precious/) [Yossi Ghinsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yossi-ghinsberg/) > [I cannot but remember such things were that were most precious to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-cannot-but-remember-such-things-were-that-were-most-precious-to-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Words are often things also, and very precious, especially on the gravest occasions. Without "words," and the truth of things that is in them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-hunt/words-are-often-things-also-and-very-precious-especially-on-the/) [Leigh Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-hunt/) > [The things that are most precious to us are sometimes the most secret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/the-things-that-are-most-precious-to-us-are-sometimes-the-most-secret/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [“You have treasured people, places, and things. They are precious and powerful. Fight for them. Don't just let them lounge in the back of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-hagy/you-have-treasured-people-places-and-things-they-are-precious-and/) [Jessica Hagy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-hagy/) > [Theorems often tell us complex truths about the simple things, but only rarely tell us simple truths about the complex ones. To believe otherwise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-minsky/theorems-often-tell-us-complex-truths-about-the-simple-things-but/) [Marvin Minsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-minsky/) > [I have never heard enough classical music to be able to enjoy it; & the simple truth is, I detest it. Not mildly, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-have-never-heard-enough-classical-music-to-be-able-to-enjoy-it-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) ## More by John Barth > [Tis e'er the wont of simple folk to prize the deed and o'erlook the motive, and of learned folk to discount the deed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barth/tis-e-er-the-wont-of-simple-folk-to-prize-the-deed-and-o-erlook-the/) [John Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barth/) > [“So, I begin each day with a gesture of cynicism, and close it with a gesture of faith; or, if you prefer, begin it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barth/so-i-begin-each-day-with-a-gesture-of-cynicism-and-close-it-with-a/) [John Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barth/) > [I admire writers who can make complicated things simple, but my own talent has been to make simple things complicated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barth/i-admire-writers-who-can-make-complicated-things-simple-but-my-own/) [John Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barth/) > [“That clever folk care less for what ye think than why ye think it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barth/that-clever-folk-care-less-for-what-ye-think-than-why-ye-think-it/) [John Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barth/) > [Printed prose is historically a most peculiar, almost an aberrant way of telling stories, and by far the most inherently anesthetic: It is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barth/printed-prose-is-historically-a-most-peculiar-almost-an-aberrant-way/) [John Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barth/) > [“There's a great difficulty in making choices if you have any imagination at all. Faced with such a multitude of desireable choices, no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barth/there-s-a-great-difficulty-in-making-choices-if-you-have-any/) [John Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barth/) > [Self knowledge is always bad news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barth/self-knowledge-is-always-bad-news/) [John Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barth/) > [The first obligation of the writer is to be interesting. To be interesting; not to change the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barth/the-first-obligation-of-the-writer-is-to-be-interesting-to-be/) [John Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barth/) > [Yet everyone begins in the same place; how is it that most go along without difficulty but a few lose their way?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barth/yet-everyone-begins-in-the-same-place-how-is-it-that-most-go-along/) [John Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barth/) > [A curious thing about written literature: It is about four thousand years old, but we have no way of knowing whether four thousand years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barth/a-curious-thing-about-written-literature-it-is-about-four-thousand/) [John Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barth/) > [Nothing is loathsomer than the self-loathing of a self one loathes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barth/nothing-is-loathsomer-than-the-self-loathing-of-a-self-one-loathes/) [John Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barth/) > [He wishes he had never entered the funhouse. But he has. Then he wishes he were dead. But he's not. Therefore he will construct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barth/he-wishes-he-had-never-entered-the-funhouse-but-he-has-then-he-wishes/) [John Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barth/) > [“Am I boring you? I don't really care, I suppose, but I'll be more comfortable if I knew all this interested you. No doubt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barth/am-i-boring-you-i-don-t-really-care-i-suppose-but-i-ll-be-more/) [John Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barth/) > [Though life's tuition is always ruinous, inexorably we learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barth/though-life-s-tuition-is-always-ruinous-inexorably-we-learn/) [John Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barth/) > [“The difference here 'twixt simple and witty folk, if the truth be known, is that your plain man cares much for what stand ye…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barth/the-difference-here-twixt-simple-and-witty-folk-if-the-truth-be-known/) [John Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barth/) [Explore all 97 John Barth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barth/) ## More Apprehension quotes > [Marriages are always moving from one season to another. Sometimes we find ourselves in winter--discouraged, detached, and dissatisfied; other times we experience springtime, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/marriages-are-always-moving-from-one-season-to-another-sometimes-we/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [Perhapsthemost sublimeinsights oftheJewishprophets and the Christian gospel is the knowledge that since perfection is love, the apprehension of perfection is at once the means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-niebuhr/perhapsthemost-sublimeinsights-ofthejewishprophets-and-the-christian/) [Reinhold Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-niebuhr/) > [At length weariness succeeds to labor, and the mind lies at ease in the contemplation of her own attainments without any desire of new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/at-length-weariness-succeeds-to-labor-and-the-mind-lies-at-ease-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The apprehension whether people will like it or not also doesn't bother me much. I've always done my work with a gut feeling that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiku-sharda/the-apprehension-whether-people-will-like-it-or-not-also-doesn-t/) [Kiku Sharda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiku-sharda/) > [LIFE, n. A spiritual pickle preserving the body from decay. We live in daily apprehension of its loss; yet when lost it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/life-n-a-spiritual-pickle-preserving-the-body-from-decay-we-live-in/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [“Man may feel like a feeble and powerless pawn, at some moment in his life. This apprehension can come out of the blue, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/man-may-feel-like-a-feeble-and-powerless-pawn-at-some-moment-in-his/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [We stand for organized terror - this should be frankly admitted. Terror is an absolute necessity during times of revolution. Our aim is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dzerzhinsky/we-stand-for-organized-terror-this-should-be-frankly-admitted-terror/) Felix Dzerzhinsky > [The regulation of commerce, it is true, is a new power; but that seems to be an addition which few oppose and from which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-regulation-of-commerce-it-is-true-is-a-new-power-but-that-seems/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [As a father and grandfather, I have witnessed firsthand the joy of new life entering the world. I know the pain and apprehension that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-ortiz/as-a-father-and-grandfather-i-have-witnessed-firsthand-the-joy-of-new/) [Solomon Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-ortiz/) > [Lord, enlighten thou our enemies. Sharpen their wits, give acuteness to their perceptions, and consecutiveness and clearness to their reasoning powers: we are in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/lord-enlighten-thou-our-enemies-sharpen-their-wits-give-acuteness-to/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [The sense of death is most in apprehension.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-sense-of-death-is-most-in-apprehension/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Since philosophy is the exploration of the rational, it is for that very reason the apprehension of the present and the actual, not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/since-philosophy-is-the-exploration-of-the-rational-it-is-for-that/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Injustice is not evil in itself, but only in the fear and apprehension that one will not escape those who have been set up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/injustice-is-not-evil-in-itself-but-only-in-the-fear-and-apprehension/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [The fact about himself that the liar hides is that he is attempting to lead us away from a correct apprehension of reality; we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-frankfurt/the-fact-about-himself-that-the-liar-hides-is-that-he-is-attempting/) [Harry Frankfurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-frankfurt/) > [“A person can hurry through or sleep walk through life, but whenever they stop to catch their breath or awaken from a long nap,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/a-person-can-hurry-through-or-sleep-walk-through-life-but-whenever/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) [Browse all 258 Apprehension quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apprehension/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Somewhere in the world there was a young woman with such splendid understanding that she'd see him entire, like a poem or story, and find his words so valuable after all that when he confessed his apprehensions she would explain why they were in fact the very things that made him precious to her...and to Western Civilization! 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