And enough for me that when my hand touched your shoulder, you leaned on me; and when you felt me slip away, you called my name.
Orson Scott CardRead
What am I now, Alai?" "Still good." "At what?" "At--anything. There's a million soldiers who'd follow you to the end of the universe." "I don't want to go to the end of the universe." "So where do you want to go? They'll follow you." I want to go home, thought Ender, but I don't know where it is.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote illustrates the struggle between seeking external validation and the intrinsic desire for belonging and home.
In this quote from Orson Scott Card, the dialogue reflects a conflict within Ender about his identity and purpose. He grapples with the admiration he receives from his soldiers, contrasting with his internal longing for a place he can truly call home. This highlights a universal theme of searching for meaning and connection amidst the expectations or accolades from others.
Themes
IdentityBelongingPurposeHomeJourney
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used during a motivational speech about finding one's purpose.
More from Orson Scott Card
All quotes →The world is always a democracy in times of flux, and the man with the best voice will win.
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Never mind that the story had turned out to be lies and foolishness—there was always folks stupid enough to say, Where there's smoke there's fire, when the saying should have been, Where there's scandalous lies there's always malicious believers and spreaders-around, regardless of evidence.
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The lives of all people flow through time, and, regardless of how brutal one moment may be, how filled with grief or pain or fear, time flows through all lives equally.
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You take a step, then another. That's the journey. But to take a step with your eyes open is not a journey at all, it's a remaking of your own mind.
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I've had your tears with mine, and you've had mine with yours. I think that's more intimate even than a kiss.
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