Afternoon Quote by Jonathan Safran Foer
“I asked my schoolmate Mary to write a letter to me. She was funny and full of life. She liked to run around her empty house without any clothes on, even once she was too old for that. Nothing embarrassed her. I admired that so much, because everything embarrassed me, and that hurt me. She loved to jump on her bed. She jumped on her bed for so many years that one afternoon, while I watched her jump, the seams burst. Feathers filled the small room. Our laughter kept the feathers in the air. I thought about birds. Could they fly if there wasn’t someone, somewhere, laughing?”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, 2005
The narrator admires a carefree friend whose uninhibited joy contrasts with his own embarrassment, highlighting how freedom can inspire laughter that lifts spirits like feathers.
In simple terms: A free spirit’s joy can lift us out of self‑consciousness.
Key Takeaway
Embrace playful freedom to ease personal shame.
Themes
freedom
joy
self‑consciousness
friendship
Mood
lighthearted
reflective
Type
narrative
contemplative
When to use this quote
- childhood play
- social anxiety relief
- creative imagination
- overcoming embarrassment
Key Concepts
anarchism
unconventional behavior
psychological contrast
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you cultivate harmless playfulness?
- What limits does society place on freedom?
A Different Perspective
Such uninhibited joy may be unsustainable or socially risky.
