Speaking as somebody with three sisters and a very largely female Muslim family, there is not a single woman I know in my family or in their friends who would have accepted the wearing of a veil.
Salman RushdieRead
But loneliness is as delusive a belief in the pertinence of the world as is love: in choosing to feel lonely, as in choosing to love, one carves a space next to oneself to be filled by others - a friend, a lover, a toy poodle, a violinist on the radio.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Loneliness and love are both choices that affect our emotional landscape and invite connections with others.
In this quote, Yiyun Li highlights the duality of loneliness and love as emotional choices that shape our reality. Both states create a personal space that can be filled with meaningful connections, whether it is with a friend, a romantic partner, a pet, or even art, emphasizing that the act of reaching out to others is fundamental to overcoming isolation and enriching our lives.
Themes
LonelinessLoveRelationshipsConnectionEmotion
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about mental health and the importance of social connections, this quote can emphasize the impact of loneliness.
Similar quotes
A desire for social connection is fundamentally hardwired into our psychology, and so being deprived of it has devastating mental and physical consequences. Yet we live in a society which has become ever more fragmented and atomised.
Owen JonesRead
I didn't cross the line, you drew it in after I traversed it.
Russell BrandRead
I seem to have fallen for women with missing parents. Goodness knows what it signifies.
Salman RushdieRead
Don't quarrel with your parents even if you are on the right.
PlatoRead
I didn't want to be alone, but I had to learn that the dimensions of my feelings are too violent. I had to learn this.
Klaus KinskiRead