Care Quote by Tom Stoppard
“The trouble is, I can't find a part of myself where you're not important. I write in order to be worth your while and to finance the way I want to live with you. Not the way you want to live. The way I want to live with you. Without you I wouldn't care. I'd eat tinned spaghetti and put on yesterday's clothes. But as it is I change my socks, and make money, and tart up Brodie's unspeakable drivel into speakable drivel so he can be an author too, like me.”
About This Quote
Source Play: The Real Thing, 1982
The speaker expresses deep dependence on a lover, intertwining personal identity with the relationship, and using writing as a means to justify and sustain that bond.
In simple terms: I need you to feel valuable and to justify my life choices.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how relationships shape self‑worth.
Themes
love
identity
creativity
Mood
conflicted
reflective
Type
personal
emotional
When to use this quote
- writing
- relationships
- career decisions
- daily routines
Key Concepts
existentialism
dependency
Questions to Reflect On
- How does love influence your sense of purpose?
- Do you define yourself beyond this relationship?
A Different Perspective
Love can blur personal boundaries and lead to self‑neglect.
