Long time Quote by John Irving
““When Homer Wells saw the stationmaster’s brain stem exposed, he felt that Dr. Larch was busy enough – with both hands – for it to be safe to say what Homer wanted to say. ‘I love you,’ said Homer Wells. He knew he had to leave the room, then – while he could still see the door – and so he started to leave. ‘I love you too, Homer,’ said Wilbur Larch, who for another minute or more could not have seen a blood clot in the brain stem if there had been one to see. He heard Homer say ‘Right’ before he heard the door close. In a while, he could make out the brain stem clearly, there was no clot. ‘Arrhythmia,’ Wilbur Larch repeated to himself. Then he added, ‘Right,’ as if he were now speaking for Homer Wells. Dr. Larch put his instruments aside; he gripped the operating table for a long time.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Cider House Rules by John Irving, 1985
In a tense surgical scene, a doctor’s focus on a medical task masks an emotional exchange, highlighting how love can surface even in life‑and‑death moments.
In simple terms: Love appears amid crisis.
Key Takeaway
Allow vulnerability even in high‑stress situations.
Themes
love
mortality
communication
Mood
tense
intimate
Type
dramatic
emotional
When to use this quote
- hospital
- critical care
- personal confession
- ethical dilemmas
Key Concepts
emotional honesty
professional duty
Questions to Reflect On
- Can love coexist with professional responsibility?
- How do we balance personal feelings and duty?
A Different Perspective
The doctor’s distraction could compromise patient safety.
![“JUST BECAUSE A BUNCH OF ATHEISTS ARE BETTER WRITERS THAN THE GUYS WHO WROTE THE BIBLE DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE THEM RIGHT!" [Owen Meany] said crossly. "LOOK AT THOSE WEIRDO TV MIRACLE-WORKERS--THEY'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO BELIEVE IN MAGIC! BUT THE REAL MIRACLES AREN'T ANYTHING YOU CAN…” quote by John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70e/john-irving-337_atheists_just-because-a-bunch-of-atheists-are-bet_31804.jpg)
