--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He knows that the only way he can accept…" description: "\"He knows that the only way he can accept losing her is if he can continue to hold her or be held by her. If they can somehow nurse each other out of th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/855/michael-ondaatje-940_accepting_he-knows-that-the-only-way-he-can-accept_2893443.jpg" --- # He knows that the only way he can accept losing her is if… ![“He knows that the only way he can accept losing her is if he can continue to hold her or be held by her. If they can somehow nurse each other out of this. Not with a wall.” quote by Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/855/michael-ondaatje-940_accepting_he-knows-that-the-only-way-he-can-accept_2893443.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/855/michael-ondaatje-940_accepting_he-knows-that-the-only-way-he-can-accept_2893443.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/855/michael-ondaatje-940_accepting_he-knows-that-the-only-way-he-can-accept_2893443.jpg) > “He knows that the only way he can accept losing her is if he can continue to hold her or be held by her. If they can somehow nurse each other out of this. Not with a wall.” [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Love persists through loss when partners remain emotionally connected, not isolated by walls. **In simple terms:** Love endures when we stay emotionally connected. Key Takeaway Maintain emotional closeness despite separation. Themes love loss connection healing Mood reflective poignant Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - bereavement - relationship counseling - personal growth - support groups Key Concepts attachment theory grief emotional intimacy Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep emotional bonds alive after loss? - What barriers prevent you from staying connected? A Different Perspective Physical distance can still cause emotional isolation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nurse/) [Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall/) ## Related quotes > [Hold the old holding hand. Hold and be held. Plod on and never recede. Slowly with never a pause plod on and never recede.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/hold-the-old-holding-hand-hold-and-be-held-plod-on-and-never-recede/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [the world is not a pleasant place to be without someone to hold and be held by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-giovanni/the-world-is-not-a-pleasant-place-to-be-without-someone-to-hold-and/) [Nikki Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-giovanni/) > [I will continue to hold my head high and not let negative, bitter people get me down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/porsha-williams/i-will-continue-to-hold-my-head-high-and-not-let-negative-bitter/) [Porsha Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/porsha-williams/) > [Despite all the things I have been through in my life, I will continue to hold my head up high and move on. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/despite-all-the-things-i-have-been-through-in-my-life-i-will-continue/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You know what? Just move on. Move on with life, and leave those who don't care about you behind. Don't stress of anyone anymore.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-what-just-move-on-move-on-with-life-and-leave-those-who-don/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You will never be HAPPY if you continue to hold on to the things that makes me sad!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhoni13/you-will-never-be-happy-if-you-continue-to-hold-on-to-the-things-that/) Jhoni13 > [We can have peace, but if we continue to hold out, we can obtain more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haim-bar-lev/we-can-have-peace-but-if-we-continue-to-hold-out-we-can-obtain-more/) Haim Bar-Lev > [Winning is not everything - but making the effort to win was... If you can't accept losing, you can't win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/winning-is-not-everything-but-making-the-effort-to-win-was-if-you-can/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [“It is a great deal to fight while despising war, to accept losing everything while still preferring happiness, to face destruction while cherishing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/it-is-a-great-deal-to-fight-while-despising-war-to-accept-losing/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [I simply don't accept losing well. I just feel whatever it takes to win, you have to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-belfour/i-simply-don-t-accept-losing-well-i-just-feel-whatever-it-takes-to/) [Ed Belfour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-belfour/) > [It may sound simple, but both winning and losing can become a mind-set, and I won't accept losing - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/it-may-sound-simple-but-both-winning-and-losing-can-become-a-mind-set/) [Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/) > [I love that mentality: 'Hey - you know what? - you may beat us, but by God we're going to beat the hell out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-ryan/i-love-that-mentality-hey-you-know-what-you-may-beat-us-but-by-god-we/) [Rex Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-ryan/) > [I wouldn't accept losing as a team, wouldn't accept losing as my team. It's like a war every practice. I think it helped us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-forsberg/i-wouldn-t-accept-losing-as-a-team-wouldn-t-accept-losing-as-my-team/) [Peter Forsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-forsberg/) > [You learn to accept losing someone, but you never get over it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-dobson/you-learn-to-accept-losing-someone-but-you-never-get-over-it/) [Anita Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-dobson/) > [You have to accept both losing and winning well. I've stayed calm when I'm winning and I've stayed calm when I've lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-nadal/you-have-to-accept-both-losing-and-winning-well-i-ve-stayed-calm-when/) [Rafael Nadal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-nadal/) ## More by Michael Ondaatje > [“In spite of this, our table's status on the Oronsay continued to be minimal, while those at the Captain's Table were constantly toasting to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/in-spite-of-this-our-table-s-status-on-the-oronsay-continued-to-be/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [He will hear the rain before he feels it, a clicking on the dry grass, on the olive leaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/he-will-hear-the-rain-before-he-feels-it-a-clicking-on-the-dry-grass/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [“Whenever her father was alone with a dog in a house he would lean over and smell the skin at the base of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/whenever-her-father-was-alone-with-a-dog-in-a-house-he-would-lean/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [“...those who had risked everything at a riverbend on a left turn and so discovered a fortune.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/those-who-had-risked-everything-at-a-riverbend-on-a-left-turn-and-so/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [“All over the world there must be people like us, Anna had said then, wounded in some way by falling in love - seemingly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/all-over-the-world-there-must-be-people-like-us-anna-had-said-then/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [Her father had taught her about hands. About a dog's paws. Whenever her father was alone with a dog in a house he would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/her-father-had-taught-her-about-hands-about-a-dog-s-paws-whenever-her/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [What is interesting and important happens mostly in secret, in places where there is no power. Nothing much of lasting value ever happens at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/what-is-interesting-and-important-happens-mostly-in-secret-in-places/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [There's more danger in the violence you don't face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/there-s-more-danger-in-the-violence-you-don-t-face/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [From this point on, she whispered, we will either find or lose our souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/from-this-point-on-she-whispered-we-will-either-find-or-lose-our-souls/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [“You know it is the most relaxed thing when you when you sit with a best friend and you know there is nothing you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/you-know-it-is-the-most-relaxed-thing-when-you-when-you-sit-with-a/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [“There was no control except the " mood of his power... and it is for this reason it is good you never heard him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/there-was-no-control-except-the-mood-of-his-power-and-it-is-for-this/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [You're getting everyone's point of view at the same time, which for me, is the perfect state for a novel: a cubist state, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/you-re-getting-everyone-s-point-of-view-at-the-same-time-which-for-me/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [I see the poem or the novel ending with an open door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/i-see-the-poem-or-the-novel-ending-with-an-open-door/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [“The Time Around Scars: A girl whom I've not spoken to or shared coffee with for several years writes of an old scar. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/the-time-around-scars-a-girl-whom-i-ve-not-spoken-to-or-shared-coffee/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [“- Daca ti-as incredinta viata mea, ai scapa-o pe jos. Nu-i asa?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/daca-ti-as-incredinta-viata-mea-ai-scapa-o-pe-jos-nu-i-asa/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) [Explore all 322 Michael Ondaatje quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He knows that the only way he can accept losing her is if he can continue to hold her or be held by her. If they can somehow nurse each other out of this. Not with a wall.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Ondaatje" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/he-knows-that-the-only-way-he-can-accept-losing-her-is-if-he-can/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accepting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/he-knows-that-the-only-way-he-can-accept-losing-her-is-if-he-can/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/855/michael-ondaatje-940_accepting_he-knows-that-the-only-way-he-can-accept_2893443.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/855/michael-ondaatje-940_accepting_he-knows-that-the-only-way-he-can-accept_2893443.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/855/michael-ondaatje-940_accepting_he-knows-that-the-only-way-he-can-accept_2893443.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He knows that the only way he can accept losing her is if he can continue to hold her or be held by her. If…” — Michael Ondaatje", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Michael Ondaatje", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "He knows that the only way...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/he-knows-that-the-only-way-he-can-accept-losing-her-is-if-he-can/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/he-knows-that-the-only-way-he-can-accept-losing-her-is-if-he-can/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```