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
There is a reason the word belonging has a synonym for want at its center; it is the human condition.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The desire to belong is a fundamental aspect of being human.
In this quote, Jodi Picoult suggests that the concept of 'belonging' is deeply intertwined with our intrinsic desires and needs. At the heart of the word lies the notion of 'want,' highlighting how essential it is for individuals to feel connected and integrated within their communities and relationships, reflecting a shared human experience of seeking companionship and acceptance.
Themes
BelongingRelationshipsHuman ConditionAcceptanceCommunity
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about community engagement, I might quote Jodi Picoult to emphasize the importance of belonging.
More from Jodi Picoult
All quotes →Whether it was power they sought, or revenge, or love-well, those were all just different forms of hunger. The bigger the hole inside you, the more desperate you became to fill it.
Jodi PicoultRead
she told me she'd be a phoenix." The image of the mythical creature rising from the ashes glitters in my mind. "They don't really exist." "She said that depends on whether or not there's someone who can see them.
Jodi PicoultRead
for 100,000 (dollars), you [can] flatten a house with a wrecking ball. Imagine how much less it [takes] to destroy something than it [does] to build it in the first place.
Jodi PicoultRead
But if you seek forgiveness, doesn't that automatically mean you cannot be a monster? By definition, doesn't that desperation make you human again?
Jodi PicoultRead
when you [lose someone], it feels like the hole in your gum when a tooth falls out. You can chew, you can eat, you have plenty of other teeth, but your tongue keeps going back to that empty place, where all nerves are still a little raw
Jodi PicoultRead
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