Work love Quote by Joyce Carol Oates
““I live now for my work. I live for my work. I live only for my work. One day I will do work deserving of my talent & desire. One day. This I pledge. This I vow. I want you to love me for my work. But if you don't love me I can't continue my work. So please love me! - so I can continue my work. I am trapped here! I am trapped in this blond mannequin with the face. I can only breathe through that face! Those nostrils! That mouth! Help me to be perfect. If God was in us, we would be perfect. God is not in us, we know this for we are not perfect. I don't want money & fame. I want only to be perfect. The blond mannequin Monroe is me & is not me. She is not me. She is what I was born. Yes I want you to love her. So you will love me. Oh I want to love you! Where are you? I look, I look & there is no one there.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: "The Man Who Loved Children" (hypothetical)
The speaker feels trapped in a performative identity, seeking validation through work and love, yearning for perfection but confronting inherent imperfection.
In simple terms: Seeking validation through work while feeling trapped.
Key Takeaway
Recognize self-worth beyond external approval.
Themes
identity
validation
perfection
artistry
loneliness
Mood
desperate
yearning
conflicted
Type
monologue
existential
psychological
When to use this quote
- creative professions
- personal relationships
- mental health struggles
- artistic performance
Key Concepts
existentialism
self‑objectification
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you define your worth independent of work?
- What does “perfect” mean to you?
A Different Perspective
Perfection is unattainable; reliance on others for self‑value is fragile.
