Artists are not cheerleaders, and we're not the heads of tourism boards. We expose and discuss what is problematic, what is contradictory, what is hurtful and what is silenced in the culture we're in.
Junot DiazRead
Nilda is watching the ground as though she's afraid she might fall. My heart is beating and I think, We could do anything. We could marry. We could drive off to the West Coast. We could start over. It's all possible but neither of us speaks for a long time and the moment closes and we're back in the world we've always known.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the possibilities of love and new beginnings, tempered by the fear of taking risks.
In this quote, Junot Diaz captures a moment of quiet introspection between two people, suggesting that while their love opens up endless possibilities—such as marriage or starting anew—they are held back by their fears and uncertainties. This tension between aspiration and reality illustrates how love can inspire dreams, yet also create hesitation, keeping individuals anchored in their familiar lives.
Themes
LovePossibilitiesFearDreamsNew Beginnings
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used during a wedding ceremony to highlight the journey of love and the possibilities ahead.
More from Junot Diaz
All quotes →Run a hand through your hair, like the white boys do, even though the only thing that runs easily through your hair is Africa.
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I can see myself watching him shave every morning. And at other time I see us in that house and see how one bright day (or a day like this, so cold your mind shifts every time the wind does) he will wake up and decide it's all wrong. I'm sorry, he'll say. I have to leave now.
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Migration gives a blank cheque to put anything you don't feel like addressing in the memory hold. No neighbours can go against the monster narrative of your family.
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We all dream dreams of unity, of purity; we all dream that there's an authoritative voice out there that will explain things, including ourselves.
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I think 90% of my ideas evaporate because I have a terrible memory and because I seem to be committed to not scribble anything down. As soon as I write it down, my mind rejects it.
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