Normal, in our house, is like a blanket too short for a bed--sometimes it covers you just fine, and other times it leaves you cold and shaking; and worst of all, you never know which of the two it's going to be.
Jodi PicoultRead
Most people who offer their help do it to make themselves feel better, not us. To be honest, I don't blame them. It's superstition: If you give assistance to the family in need... if you throw salt over your shoulder... if you don't step on the cracks, then maybe you'll be immune. Maybe you'll be able to convince yourself that this could never happen to you.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that people often help others more for their own emotional benefit than out of pure altruism.
Jodi Picoult's quote explores the idea that many acts of assistance are motivated by the giver's desire to feel better about themselves rather than a genuine concern for the recipient's situation. This highlights a common psychological tendency to engage in helping behavior as a means of preserving one's own sense of security and self-worth, while also hinting at the superstitions people hold to distance themselves from misfortune and tragedy that befall others.
Themes
HelpAltruismPsychologySuperstitionSecurity
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the motivations behind charitable actions.
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