The more research you do, the more at ease you are in the world you're writing about. It doesn't encumber you, it makes you free.
A. S. ByattRead
We talk about feelings. And about sex. And about bodies, and their gratification, violation, repair, decoration, deferred, maybe permanently deferred, mortality. Feelings are a bodily thing, and respecting them is called, is, kindness.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and respecting feelings as integral to our physical existence and kindness.
A. S. Byatt's quote explores the profound connection between our physical bodies and our emotional experiences. It highlights the necessity of open conversations about feelings, sex, and bodily experiences, suggesting that true kindness involves recognizing and respecting these often complex and deeply personal facets of life. By doing so, we foster understanding and compassion in our relationships with ourselves and others, acknowledging that our emotions are rooted in our bodily experiences.
Themes
FeelingsKindnessBodiesEmotionsRespect
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on emotional intelligence during a workshop, this quote could be used to highlight the importance of respecting one's feelings.
More from A. S. Byatt
All quotes →It's because I'm a feminist that I can't stand women limiting other women's imaginations. It really makes me angry.
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Why do we take pleasure in gruesome death, neatly packaged as a puzzle to which we may find a satisfactory solution through clues - or if we are not clever enough, have it revealed by the all-powerful tale-teller at the end of the book? It is something to do with being reduced to, and comforted by, playing by the rules.
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Never stop paying attention to things. Never make your mind up finally. Do not hold beliefs.
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Only write to me, write to me, I love to see the hop and skip and sudden starts of your ink.
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I am a creature of my pen. My pen is the best of me.
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