Anticipation Quote by Larry Crabb
“A marriage bound together by commitments to exploit the other for filling one's own needs (and I fear that most marriages are built on such a basis) can legitimately be described as a "tic on a dog" relationship. Just as a hungry tic clamps on to a nourishing host in anticipation of a meal, so each partner unites with the other in the expectation of finding what his or her personal nature demands. The rather frustrating dilemma, of course, is that in such a marriage there are two tics and no dog!”
About This Quote
The analogy describes marriages where partners exploit each other for personal gain, likening it to a tick feeding on a host, but noting both partners become parasites without a supportive foundation.
In simple terms: Marriages can become parasitic when based on exploitation.
Key Takeaway
Avoid exploitative relationships; seek mutual support.
Themes
relationships
exploitation
marriage dynamics
psychology
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
cautionary
When to use this quote
- couples
- therapy
- relationship counseling
- personal growth
Key Concepts
parasitic
dependency
mutualism
Questions to Reflect On
- What drives partners to exploit each other?
- How can couples foster genuine mutual support?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may oversimplify complex marital issues.
![“[It is hard to know what is good luck and what isn't and therefore whether we should be happy or sad about it. Only time will tell. For example...] The Talmud relates a story about two people who wanted to travel by boat. One broke his foot and was unable to make the trip, while his friend got on…” quote by Zelig Pliskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/68d/zelig-pliskin-22951_anticipation_it-is-hard-to-know-what-is-good-luck-and_34545.jpg)
![“The only thing is that ordinarily when I do dance with [women] they think I am suddenly going to throw them over a table or twist them all around. All I want to do is one-two, one-two-three - a simple fox trot. But they're shaking with anticipation at the thought that I'm about to whip them around…” quote by Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/073/gene-kelly-11878_anticipation_the-only-thing-is-that-ordinarily-when-i_44100.jpg)
