Closeness Quote by Michael Ondaatje
““There are stories of elopements, unrequited love, family feuds and exhausting vendettas, which everyone was drawn into, had to be involved with. But nothing is said of the closeness between two people: how they grew in the shade of each other's presence. No one speaks of that exchange of gift and character - the way a person took on and recognized in himself the smile of a lover... Where is the intimate and truthful in all this? Teenager and Uncle. Husband and lover. A lost father in his solace. And why do I want to know of this privacy? After the cups of tea, coffee, public conversations ... I want to sit down with someone and talk with utter directness, want to talk to all the lost history like that deserving lover. ””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje, 1992
The quote reflects on how intimate, private connections are overlooked amid dramatic, public narratives, yearning for honest, personal dialogue.
In simple terms: Intimacy is ignored in favor of drama; desire for honest conversation.
Key Takeaway
Seek genuine, private conversations.
Themes
intimacy
privacy
communication
human connection
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- family gatherings
- therapy sessions
- personal letters
- confessional writing
Key Concepts
psychology
relationship dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we create spaces for honest intimacy?
- What barriers prevent sharing private truths?
A Different Perspective
Intimacy may be hard to articulate without vulnerability.
![“Faith is above all a personal, intimate encounter with Jesus, and to experience [His] closeness, [His] friendship, [His] Love; only in this way does one learn to know [Him] ever more, and to love and follow [Him] ever more. May this happen to each one of us.” quote by Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c3f/pope-benedict-xvi-414_closeness_faith-is-above-all-a-personal-intimate-e_149067.jpg)
