Friendship Quote by Naomi Novik
““I know i'm making her sound like something out of a story. But it was the other way around. When my mother told me stories about the spinning princess or the brave goose-girl or the river-maiden, in my head I imagined them all a little like Kasia; that was how I thought of her. And I wasn't old enough to be wise, so I loved her more, not less, because I knew she would be taken from me soon.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Uprooted by Naomi Novik, 2015
The narrator romanticizes a loved one by projecting fairy‑tale qualities onto her, deepening affection while fearing loss.
In simple terms: She idealizes her mother’s stories, making her dear one seem mythic, heightening love and dread of loss.
Key Takeaway
Cherish loved ones before they’re gone.
Themes
love
memory
myth
loss
comingcoming
Mood
bittersweet
reflective
Type
literary
emotional
When to use this quote
- family relationships
- childhood imagination
- grief processing
Key Concepts
romanticization
idealization
nostalgia
Questions to Reflect On
- How does mythic thinking affect real relationships?
- What fears drive us to idealize?
A Different Perspective
The projection can obscure the person’s true self.
![“[My mother told me] stories about Nat King Cole, and Miles Davis, and seeing pictures in later years with band leaders like Alvino Ray.” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e42/jon-gordon-1655_band_my-mother-told-me-stories-about-nat-king_1548773.jpg)
