--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you threw a brick at someone you would…" description: "\"“If you threw a brick at someone you would be responsible for them feeling pain, presumably,' Libby said. 'But if you do the right thing and it makes s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/571/scarlett-thomas-8232_fall-in-love_if-you-threw-a-brick-at-someone-you-woul_3131397.jpg" --- # If you threw a brick at someone you would be responsible… ![“If you threw a brick at someone you would be responsible for them feeling pain, presumably,' Libby said. 'But if you do the right thing and it makes someone feel bad, isn't that their problem? Then again, how do you even know what the right thing is? Who decides?' 'It's so confusing. I am sure…” quote by Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/571/scarlett-thomas-8232_fall-in-love_if-you-threw-a-brick-at-someone-you-woul_3131397.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/571/scarlett-thomas-8232_fall-in-love_if-you-threw-a-brick-at-someone-you-woul_3131397.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/571/scarlett-thomas-8232_fall-in-love_if-you-threw-a-brick-at-someone-you-woul_3131397.jpg) > ““If you threw a brick at someone you would be responsible for them feeling pain, presumably,' Libby said. 'But if you do the right thing and it makes someone feel bad, isn't that their problem? Then again, how do you even know what the right thing is? Who decides?' 'It's so confusing. I am sure about Mark, but I was sure about Bob before that, and Richard before that. Maybe Mark isn't for ever, I just think he is now when I can't have him. I have to face up to this about myself. I fall in love like that.' She clicked her fingers. 'I always have. For other people, love is like some rare orchid that can only grow in one place under a certain set of conditions. For me it's like bindweed. It grows with no encouragement at all, under any conditions, and just strangles everything else. Good metaphor, huh?”” [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Love is portrayed as an invasive plant that spreads without care, contrasting with the idea of love as a delicate, rare flower. **In simple terms:** Love can be overwhelming and uncontrolled. Key Takeaway Recognize love’s intensity. Themes love relationships identity Mood introspective conflicted Type literary psychological When to use this quote - dating - self‑reflection - relationship dynamics - personal boundaries Key Concepts metaphor emotional complexity Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance love’s intensity with self‑care? - What defines healthy versus invasive love? A Different Perspective The metaphor may romanticize unhealthy attachment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fall in love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall-in-love/) [Feeling pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-pain/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-thing/) ## Related quotes > [“Who do we know in Canberra who wears a suit?’ Libby asked. ‘More importantly, who looks good?’ I asked. ‘Stephen Smith,’ Libby offered. ‘Wayne…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-heiss/who-do-we-know-in-canberra-who-wears-a-suit-libby-asked-more/) Anita Heiss > [“A brick could be used as a flying decision inducer. You could have said yes before I threw the brick, but I suppose you’ll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-brick-could-be-used-as-a-flying-decision-inducer-you-could-have/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Modern man threw a brick through his own window in order to sell himself a burglar alarm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-carr/modern-man-threw-a-brick-through-his-own-window-in-order-to-sell/) [Allen Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-carr/) > [When I'm playing a character like Jonathan in Ripley's Game I want to be in the moment when he's feeling pain; this very ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dougray-scott/when-i-m-playing-a-character-like-jonathan-in-ripley-s-game-i-want-to/) [Dougray Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dougray-scott/) > [“Would I jump or would I burn? I guess I would jump, because then I wouldn't have to feel pain. On the other hand,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/would-i-jump-or-would-i-burn-i-guess-i-would-jump-because-then-i/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [“At last there is an unknown element back in my life. This is how it used to be. This is how I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viv-albertine/at-last-there-is-an-unknown-element-back-in-my-life-this-is-how-it/) [Viv Albertine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viv-albertine/) > [“Most people fear pain. I've learned that not feeling pain is a much more frightening proposition than feeling it. In fact, there are times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zupan/most-people-fear-pain-i-ve-learned-that-not-feeling-pain-is-a-much/) [Mark Zupan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zupan/) > [Sick of being ignored, left out, feeling the same pain everyday. Just sick of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sick-of-being-ignored-left-out-feeling-the-same-pain-everyday-just/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If yor are feeling the Pain inside... You are probably doing it right..!!!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-yor-are-feeling-the-pain-inside-you-are-probably-doing-it-right/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“To visit a modern Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) is to enter a world that for all its technological sophistication is still designed on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/to-visit-a-modern-concentrated-animal-feeding-operation-cafo-is-to/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [“The feeling of pain never leaves. With every beat of my heart, I am reminded that it remains. It festers within me like an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/the-feeling-of-pain-never-leaves-with-every-beat-of-my-heart-i-am/) [Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/) > [“Philanthropy is not about money...its about feeling the pain of others and caring enough about their needs to help.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/philanthropy-is-not-about-money-its-about-feeling-the-pain-of-others/) [Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/) > [Good feeling pain is when you fail, it doesn't convince you to stop, but to push harder to overcome so you can succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gee-linder/good-feeling-pain-is-when-you-fail-it-doesn-t-convince-you-to-stop/) [Gee Linder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gee-linder/) > [If you're feeling pain, express that to the Lord. If you're feeling worried, express those worries. One passage that gives me comfort is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/if-you-re-feeling-pain-express-that-to-the-lord-if-you-re-feeling/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“When she treads on my grave and feels as if she’s trampling on that doting old man’s bones, my spirit will still be alive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jun-ichir-tanizaki/when-she-treads-on-my-grave-and-feels-as-if-she-s-trampling-on-that/) [Jun'ichirō Tanizaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jun-ichir-tanizaki/) ## More by Scarlett Thomas > [“Someone who has the delusion Glass, is made of, does not literally believe herself to be made of glass but rather feels fragile and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/someone-who-has-the-delusion-glass-is-made-of-does-not-literally/) [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) > [“Child, all books are magic. Just think,' he said, 'about what books make people do. People go to war on the basis of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/child-all-books-are-magic-just-think-he-said-about-what-books-make/) [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) > [Living for ever would be like marrying yourself, with no possibility of a divorce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/living-for-ever-would-be-like-marrying-yourself-with-no-possibility/) [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) > [But I quite like the way you can talk about science without necessarily using mathematics, but using metaphors instead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/but-i-quite-like-the-way-you-can-talk-about-science-without/) [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) > [“My mind now has a celebration party and a funeral going on in the same room.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/my-mind-now-has-a-celebration-party-and-a-funeral-going-on-in-the/) [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) > [You can't do science in a novel, but you can do philosophy. Or, if you're really lucky, you can manage to pose a question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/you-can-t-do-science-in-a-novel-but-you-can-do-philosophy-or-if-you/) [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) > [“Even if you did drop into someone's consciousness, you'd have all their memories and desires and hang-ups right there in front of you. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/even-if-you-did-drop-into-someone-s-consciousness-you-d-have-all/) [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) > [I erased the thought from my mind, but I couldn't undo the fact that I'd had the thought in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/i-erased-the-thought-from-my-mind-but-i-couldn-t-undo-the-fact-that-i/) [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) > [“They really do have nothing in common on paper, these people and him. But yet there are so many common reference points; even some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/they-really-do-have-nothing-in-common-on-paper-these-people-and-him/) [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) > [“Aquinas wondered what would happen if God wanted to achieve universal resurrection. In other words, bringing everybody who had ever lived back to life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/aquinas-wondered-what-would-happen-if-god-wanted-to-achieve-universal/) [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) > [“There's something romantic about it, of course, in the way only other people's lives can be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/there-s-something-romantic-about-it-of-course-in-the-way-only-other/) [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) > [Routine kills creative thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/routine-kills-creative-thought/) [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) > [You tell them what a happy ending consists of, which is always individual success. You tell them that nothing irrational exists in this world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/you-tell-them-what-a-happy-ending-consists-of-which-is-always/) [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) > [I hate stereotypes and I hate cliche.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/i-hate-stereotypes-and-i-hate-cliche/) [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) > [“Not all events are stories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/not-all-events-are-stories/) [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) [Explore all 81 Scarlett Thomas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) ## More Fall in love quotes > [“I already love in you your beauty, but I am only beginning to love in you that which is eternal and ever precious –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-already-love-in-you-your-beauty-but-i-am-only-beginning-to-love-in/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“There's no need for a reason for people to fall in love. 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Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [“Be sure to fall in love with someone who loves you more than you love them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-snow/be-sure-to-fall-in-love-with-someone-who-loves-you-more-than-you-love/) [Tiffany Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-snow/) > [When you fall in love for the first time, you're naive to every feeling that you're feeling, and you're almost obsessed with or addicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-pettyfer/when-you-fall-in-love-for-the-first-time-you-re-naive-to-every/) [Alex Pettyfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-pettyfer/) > [“I lost my chance with you then, and maybe I deserved to, for being too scared to speak up and tell you how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-harlow/i-lost-my-chance-with-you-then-and-maybe-i-deserved-to-for-being-too/) [Melanie Harlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-harlow/) > [ONE stone enough to break a glass,,, ONE sentence is enough to break a heart,,, FIRST sight is enough to fall in love,,, ONE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-stone-enough-to-break-a-glass-one-sentence-is-enough-to-break-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I give my heart completely to the experience and I really connect with people and make friends. I fall in love and then it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-tyler/i-give-my-heart-completely-to-the-experience-and-i-really-connect/) [Liv Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-tyler/) > [“Falling in love is easy. Fools fall in love all the time. Staying in love is the test of time and the gift you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-murphy/falling-in-love-is-easy-fools-fall-in-love-all-the-time-staying-in/) [James A. Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-murphy/) > [“What a situation!' cried Miss Squeers; '...What is the reason that men fall in love with me, whether I like it or not, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/what-a-situation-cried-miss-squeers-what-is-the-reason-that-men-fall/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [My life always came first. 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Then again, how do you even know what the right thing is? Who decides?' 'It's so confusing. I am sure about Mark, but I was sure about Bob before that, and Richard before that. Maybe Mark isn't for ever, I just think he is now when I can't have him. I have to face up to this about myself. I fall in love like that.' She clicked her fingers. 'I always have. For other people, love is like some rare orchid that can only grow in one place under a certain set of conditions. For me it's like bindweed. It grows with no encouragement at all, under any conditions, and just strangles everything else. 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