--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ... His arm was so thick and strong. I…" description: "\"“... His arm was so thick and strong. I was sure it would protect me for as long as I lived. And it did. Even after I lost him. The memory of his arm w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/374/jonathan-safran-foer-136_love_his-arm-was-so-thick-and-strong-i-was-su_3014280.jpg" --- # ... His arm was so thick and strong. I was sure it would… ![“... His arm was so thick and strong. I was sure it would protect me for as long as I lived. And it did. Even after I lost him. The memory of his arm wraps around me as his arm used to. Each day has been chained to the previous one. But the weeks have had wings. Why are you leaving me? He wrote, I…” quote by Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/374/jonathan-safran-foer-136_love_his-arm-was-so-thick-and-strong-i-was-su_3014280.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/374/jonathan-safran-foer-136_love_his-arm-was-so-thick-and-strong-i-was-su_3014280.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/374/jonathan-safran-foer-136_love_his-arm-was-so-thick-and-strong-i-was-su_3014280.jpg) > ““... His arm was so thick and strong. I was sure it would protect me for as long as I lived. And it did. Even after I lost him. The memory of his arm wraps around me as his arm used to. Each day has been chained to the previous one. But the weeks have had wings. Why are you leaving me? He wrote, I do not know how to live. I do not know either, but I am trying. I do not know how to try. There were things I wanted to tell him. But I knew they would hurt him. So I buried them, and let them hurt me. I put my hand on him. Touching him was always so important to me. It was something I lived for. My fingers against his shoulder. The outsides of our thighs touching as we squeezed together on the bus. I couldn't explain it, but I needed it. Sometimes I imagined stitching all of our little touches together. How many hundreds of thousands of fingers brushing against each other does it take to make love. Why does anyone ever make love? ...”” [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He reflects on loss, intimacy, and the yearning for connection through physical touch, questioning love’s purpose. **In simple terms:** He longs for connection after loss. Key Takeaway Cherish and express love openly. Themes loss intimacy memory love Mood melancholic introspective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - bereavement - romantic relationships - friendship - therapy - creative writing Key Concepts grief human connection physical affection Questions to Reflect On - How do you honor memories of loved ones? - What role does touch play in your relationships? A Different Perspective Physical longing may not heal emotional wounds. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Touching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/touching/) ## Related quotes > [“He tightened his grip on her hand and pulled her toward him in the darkness. He knew exactly how she’d respond, her other hand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-stuart/he-tightened-his-grip-on-her-hand-and-pulled-her-toward-him-in-the/) [Anne Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-stuart/) > [I put my hand on him. Touching him has always been important to me, it was something I lived for. I never could explain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/i-put-my-hand-on-him-touching-him-has-always-been-important-to-me-it/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [“…the gavel became an extension of his arm and he used it to bludgeon the court into submission.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-deihl/the-gavel-became-an-extension-of-his-arm-and-he-used-it-to-bludgeon/) William Deihl > [There's nothing tough about playing Third. 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I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/why-are-you-leaving-me-he-wrote-i-do-not-know-how-to-live-i-do-not/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [There were things I wanted to tell him. But I knew they would hurt him. So I buried them, and let them hurt me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/there-were-things-i-wanted-to-tell-him-but-i-knew-they-would-hurt-him/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [“He wrote, I do not know how to live. I do not know either, but I am trying. I do not know how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/he-wrote-i-do-not-know-how-to-live-i-do-not-know-either-but-i-am/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [“I have scars on my hand from touching certain people. 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He wrote, I do not know how to live. I do not know either, but I am trying. I do not know how to try. There were things I wanted to tell him. But I knew they would hurt him. So I buried them, and let them hurt me. I put my hand on him. Touching him was always so important to me. It was something I lived for. My fingers against his shoulder. The outsides of our thighs touching as we squeezed together on the bus. I couldn't explain it, but I needed it. Sometimes I imagined stitching all of our little touches together. How many hundreds of thousands of fingers brushing against each other does it take to make love. 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