You know the old adage: Plant an expectation, reap a disappointment.
Elizabeth GilbertRead
You have now reached infatuation’s final destination—the complete and merciless devaluation of self.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the detrimental effects of infatuation on one's self-worth.
In this quote, Elizabeth Gilbert warns of the dangers of infatuation, suggesting that it can lead to a complete loss of self-esteem and identity. Infatuation, often mistaken for love, can devalue individuals, making them feel less worthy and compromising their self-respect as they become overly focused on their affection for another person, often overlooking their own needs and feelings in the process.
Themes
InfatuationSelf-WorthRelationshipsDevaluationLove
In practice
Example use cases
During a breakup support group, I shared this quote to illustrate the potential pitfalls of falling too hard without maintaining self-respect.
More from Elizabeth Gilbert
All quotes →Do not apologize for crying. Without this emotion, we are only robots.
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I had always been taught that the pursuit of happiness was my natural (even national) birthright. It is the emotional trademark of my culture to seek happiness. Not just any kind of happiness, either, but profound happiness, even soaring happiness. And what could possibly bring a person more soaring happiness than romantic love.
Elizabeth GilbertRead
When I tried this morning, after an hour or so of unhappy thinking, to dip back into my meditation, I took a new idea with me: compassion. I asked my heart if it could please infuse my soul with a more generous perspective on my mind's workings. Instead of thinking that I was a failure, could I perhaps accept that I am only a human being--and a normal one, at that?
Elizabeth GilbertRead
And when you sense a faint potentiality for happiness after such dark times you must grab onto the ankles of that happiness and not let go until it drags you face-first out of the dirt - this is not selfishness, but obligation. You were given life; it is your duty to find something beautiful within life no matter how slight.
Elizabeth GilbertRead
But never again use another person's body or emotions as a scratching post for your own unfulfilling yearnings.
Elizabeth GilbertRead
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But that is how men are! Ungrateful and never satisfied. When you don't have them they hate you because you won't; and when you do have them they hate you again, for some other reason. Or for no reason at all, except that they are discontented children, and can't be satisfied whatever they get, let a woman do what she may.
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