--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Westerners drop / I love you’s / into…" description: "\"“Westerners drop / I love you’s / into conversation / like blueberries / hitting soft muffin dough / I convert it to shillings / wince.”\" — Shailja Patel" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cc/shailja-patel-54322_class_westerners-drop-i-love-you-s-into-conver_2760648.jpg" --- # Westerners drop / I love you’s / into conversation / like… ![“Westerners drop / I love you’s / into conversation / like blueberries / hitting soft muffin dough / I convert it to shillings / wince.” quote by Shailja Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cc/shailja-patel-54322_class_westerners-drop-i-love-you-s-into-conver_2760648.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cc/shailja-patel-54322_class_westerners-drop-i-love-you-s-into-conver_2760648.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cc/shailja-patel-54322_class_westerners-drop-i-love-you-s-into-conver_2760648.jpg) > ““Westerners drop / I love you’s / into conversation / like blueberries / hitting soft muffin dough / I convert it to shillings / wince.”” [Shailja Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailja-patel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She juxtaposes casual affection with economic metaphor, highlighting how love is transformed into transactional language. **In simple terms:** Love is turned into a trade metaphor. Key Takeaway Be aware of commodifying emotions. Themes love economics language Mood reflective poetic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - relationships - marketing - social media - financial discourse Key Concepts metaphor cultural critique Questions to Reflect On - How does language shape our view of love? - Can love stay non‑transactional? A Different Perspective Not all affection is transactional. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Conversation Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation-like-737920/) [Convert Shillings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/convert-shillings-3167528/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Muffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muffin/) [Shillings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shillings-449923/) [Shillings Wince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shillings-wince-3167527/) ## Related quotes > [How 'bout we make it three shillings and we forget the name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/how-bout-we-make-it-three-shillings-and-we-forget-the-name/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [In London, before I set out, I had paid one shilling; another was now demanded, so that upon the whole, from London to Richmond,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-philipp-moritz/in-london-before-i-set-out-i-had-paid-one-shilling-another-was-now/) [Karl Philipp Moritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-philipp-moritz/) > [To cash paid for saddlery, a letter case, maps, glasses, etc etc etc. for the use of my Command: 29 pounds 13 shillings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/to-cash-paid-for-saddlery-a-letter-case-maps-glasses-etc-etc-etc-for/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [“More than two million households had found ten shillings for the BBC license fee to bring radio into their homes,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-jane-stratford/more-than-two-million-households-had-found-ten-shillings-for-the-bbc/) [Sarah-Jane Stratford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-jane-stratford/) > ["Write that down," the King said to the jury, and the jury eagerly wrote down all three dates on their slates, and then added…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/write-that-down-the-king-said-to-the-jury-and-the-jury-eagerly-wrote/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“Come, come, come? I'm not asking for hundreds of pounds, just a little to start with. Will someone say ten shillings?' 'I can say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-milligan/come-come-come-i-m-not-asking-for-hundreds-of-pounds-just-a-little-to/) [Spike Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-milligan/) > [Make ducks and drakes with shillings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-chapman/make-ducks-and-drakes-with-shillings/) [George Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-chapman/) > [Can't you see it all makes perfect sense, expressed in dollars and cents, pounds shillings and pence, can't you see it all; makes perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/can-t-you-see-it-all-makes-perfect-sense-expressed-in-dollars-and/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) > [“I saw an advertisement the other day for the secret of life. It said 'The secret of life can be yours for twenty-five shillings.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cook/i-saw-an-advertisement-the-other-day-for-the-secret-of-life-it-said/) [Peter Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cook/) > [“It is a great thing when I discover I am no longer my own but His. If the ten shillings in my pocket belong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/it-is-a-great-thing-when-i-discover-i-am-no-longer-my-own-but-his-if/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [“I will freely spend nineteen shillings in the pound to defend my right of giving or refusing the other shilling.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-will-freely-spend-nineteen-shillings-in-the-pound-to-defend-my/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Take care of the halfpence and pence, and the shillings and pounds will take care of themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/take-care-of-the-halfpence-and-pence-and-the-shillings-and-pounds/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Whenever you save five shillings you put a man out of work for a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/whenever-you-save-five-shillings-you-put-a-man-out-of-work-for-a-day/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [In the church is a memorial to Mrs. Sarah Hill, who bequeathed 1 pound annually, to be divided at Easter, between two boys and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/in-the-church-is-a-memorial-to-mrs-sarah-hill-who-bequeathed-1-pound-2/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“Their conversation is like a gently wicked dance: sound meets sound, curtsies, shimmies, and retires. Another sound enters but is upstaged by still another:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/their-conversation-is-like-a-gently-wicked-dance-sound-meets-sound/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) ## More by Shailja Patel > [“How much we can do without is our strength.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailja-patel/how-much-we-can-do-without-is-our-strength/) [Shailja Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailja-patel/) > [“I love you honey / was the dribbled caramel / of Hollywood movies / Dallas / Dynasty / where electricity surged through skyscrapers /…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailja-patel/i-love-you-honey-was-the-dribbled-caramel-of-hollywood-movies-dallas/) [Shailja Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailja-patel/) > [“History buried becomes history repeated. A whole generation of Africans have been denied the truth of their own history, and so we do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailja-patel/history-buried-becomes-history-repeated-a-whole-generation-of/) [Shailja Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailja-patel/) > [“Seal the borders of my body to pain, seal my eyes, mouth, belly to any hunger not my own. I rename myself America. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailja-patel/seal-the-borders-of-my-body-to-pain-seal-my-eyes-mouth-belly-to-any/) [Shailja Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailja-patel/) > [“Ready is never a question just a reminder to breathe and jump.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailja-patel/ready-is-never-a-question-just-a-reminder-to-breathe-and-jump/) [Shailja Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailja-patel/) [Explore all 6 Shailja Patel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailja-patel/) ## More Class quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [If I had to guess and put a name on it, I'd say that at some point, the drug war was as much a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/if-i-had-to-guess-and-put-a-name-on-it-i-d-say-that-at-some-point-the/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [I grew up in the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-scaramucci/i-grew-up-in-the-middle-class/) [Anthony Scaramucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-scaramucci/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [“Poor people do not go on holiday; they go home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/poor-people-do-not-go-on-holiday-they-go-home/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Right now, for many Americans, class is being foregrounded like never before because of the economic situation. It doesn't mean that race doesn't matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/right-now-for-many-americans-class-is-being-foregrounded-like-never/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [But I don't think the Democratic Party is at eye level with the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-i-don-t-think-the-democratic-party-is-at-eye-level-with-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not a dancer. Never took a dance class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrishell-stause/i-m-not-a-dancer-never-took-a-dance-class/) [Chrishell Stause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrishell-stause/) > [Most startups are not just built for the person who is using them. When you do that, every now and then you get really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmett-shear/most-startups-are-not-just-built-for-the-person-who-is-using-them/) [Emmett Shear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmett-shear/) > [The structure of the Swiss ruling class is rock-hard, and unchanged since the time of Napoleon. They sit on their mountains and lecture the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-ziegler/the-structure-of-the-swiss-ruling-class-is-rock-hard-and-unchanged/) [Jean Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-ziegler/) > [We are not going back to the failed policies of the past. We are fighting for the middle class!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/we-are-not-going-back-to-the-failed-policies-of-the-past-we-are/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) [Browse all 7,637 Class quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Westerners drop / I love you’s / into conversation / like blueberries / hitting soft muffin dough / I convert it to shillings / wince.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shailja Patel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailja-patel/westerners-drop-i-love-you-s-into-conversation-like-blueberries/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Class" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailja-patel/westerners-drop-i-love-you-s-into-conversation-like-blueberries/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cc/shailja-patel-54322_class_westerners-drop-i-love-you-s-into-conver_2760648.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cc/shailja-patel-54322_class_westerners-drop-i-love-you-s-into-conver_2760648.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cc/shailja-patel-54322_class_westerners-drop-i-love-you-s-into-conver_2760648.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Westerners drop / I love you’s / into conversation / like blueberries / hitting soft muffin dough / I…” — Shailja Patel", "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": "Shailja Patel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailja-patel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Westerners drop / I love you’s...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailja-patel/westerners-drop-i-love-you-s-into-conversation-like-blueberries/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailja-patel/westerners-drop-i-love-you-s-into-conversation-like-blueberries/#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 } } ] } ```