Only then does he realize what he has done to Mirabelle, how wanting a square inch of her and not all of her has damaged them both, and how he cannot justify his actions except that, well, it was life.
Interpretation
The quote reflects on the consequences of craving only a part of someone without fully appreciating them, leading to regret in a relationship.
This quote by Steve Martin explores the complexity of relationships and the realization that a limited desire can cause significant harm. The speaker recognizes that by wanting only a small portion of Mirabelle rather than embracing her entire being, he has not only hurt her but also himself. This moment of reflection highlights the necessity of understanding and valuing a partner wholly, rather than superficially.
In practice
During a discussion on love and commitment, this quote can illustrate the need for deeper emotional connections within relationships.
When I first started doing my comedy act, I just desperately needed material. So I took literally everything I knew how to do on stage with me, which was juggling, magic and banjo and my little comedy routines. I always felt the audience sorta tolerated the serious musical parts while I was doing my comedy.
You want to be a bit compulsive in your art or craft or whatever you do.
I have heard it said that a complicated childhood can lead to a life in the arts. I tell you this story of my father and me to let you know I am qualified to be a comedian.
...it is not the big events that hurt the most but rather the smallest questionable shift in tone at the end of a spoken word that can plow most deeply into the heart.
Reviews for someone like me come in three packages. One is justifiable praise, the second is justifiable criticism, and the third is, "This is only published because he's a celebrity."
If he thinks he would harm Mirabelle, he would back away. But he does not yet understand when and how people are hurt. He doesn't understand the subtleties of slights and pains, that it is not the big events that hurt the most but rather the smallest questionable shift in tone at the end of a spoken word that can plow most deeply into the heart.
Where there is no love, a person's faithfulness to the marriage bond is probably against nature.
It's easier to be faithful to a restaurant than it is to a woman.
Why has marriage failed? In the first place, we raised it to unnatural standards. We tried to make it something permanent, something sacred, without knowing even the abc of sacredness, without knowing anything about the eternal. Our intentions were good but our understanding was very small, almost negligible. So instead of marriage becoming something of a heaven, it has become a hell. Instead of becoming sacred, it has fallen even below profanity.
The most congenial social occasions are those ruled by cheerful deference of each for all.
My weaknesses have always been food and men - in that order.
What should I do about the wild and the tame? The wild heart that wants to be free, and the tame heart that wants to come home. I want to be held. I don't want you to come too close. I want you to scoop me up and bring me home at nights. I don't want to tell you where I am. I want to keep a place among the rocks where no one can find me. I want to be with you.
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