--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being in love was like China: you knew it…" description: "\"Being in love was like China: you knew it was there, and no doubt it was very interesting, and some people went there, but I never would. I'd spend all..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90f/philip-pullman-525_doubt_being-in-love-was-like-china-you-knew-it_776334.png" --- # Being in love was like China: you knew it was there, and… ![“Being in love was like China: you knew it was there, and no doubt it was very interesting, and some people went there, but I never would. I'd spend all my life without ever going to China, but it wouldn't matter, because there was all the rest of the world to visit.” quote by Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90f/philip-pullman-525_doubt_being-in-love-was-like-china-you-knew-it_776334.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90f/philip-pullman-525_doubt_being-in-love-was-like-china-you-knew-it_776334.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90f/philip-pullman-525_doubt_being-in-love-was-like-china-you-knew-it_776334.png) > “Being in love was like China: you knew it was there, and no doubt it was very interesting, and some people went there, but I never would. I'd spend all my life without ever going to China, but it wouldn't matter, because there was all the rest of the world to visit.” [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Love can feel distant and intriguing, like a place you know exists but never visit, yet life offers many other experiences. **In simple terms:** Love feels distant but life offers other experiences. Key Takeaway Embrace the world beyond unattainable love. Themes love distance choice perspective Mood melancholic reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - travel - relationships - personal growth - exploration Key Concepts romance existentialism longing Questions to Reflect On - Do you chase distant love or explore nearby possibilities? - How does distance shape desire? A Different Perspective Love may remain unfulfilled, but other joys exist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Being in love was like China: you knew it was there, and no doubt it was very interesting, and some people went there, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/being-in-love-was-like-china-you-knew-it-was-there-and-no-doubt-it-3/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [“Being in love was like China: you knew it was there, and no doubt it was very interesting, and some people went there, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/being-in-love-was-like-china-you-knew-it-was-there-and-no-doubt-it-2/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [“...But it gradually seemed to me that I'd made myself believe something that wasn't true. 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