Family Quote by Salman Rushdie
““Such were the factors that detached Ormus Cama from the ordinary ties of family life. The ties that strangle us, which we call love. Because of the loosening of these ties he became, with all the attendant pain of such becoming, free. But love is what we want, not freedom. Who then is the unluckier man? The beloved, who is given his heart's desire and must forever after fear its loss, or the free man, with his unlooked-for liberty, naked and alone between the captive armies of the earth?””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Midnight's Children, 1981
The passage contrasts love’s binding expectations with the isolation of freedom, questioning which is more painful.
In simple terms: Love binds, freedom isolates; both have costs.
Key Takeaway
Consider what you truly value: connection or autonomy.
Themes
love
freedom
loneliness
choice
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- relationships
- career decisions
- personal growth
- spiritual quests
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you fear losing love or being alone?
- Which would you rather endure?
A Different Perspective
Freedom can lead to alienation and fear of loss.
