She smiled at him, making sure that the smile gathered up everything inside her and directed it toward him, making him a profound promise of herself for so little, for the beat of a response, the assurance of a complimentary vibration in him.
Interpretation
The quote expresses the depth of emotional connection that can be conveyed through a simple smile.
F. Scott Fitzgerald captures the profound nature of love and emotional intimacy in this quote, highlighting how a smile can carry immense personal significance and promise. It suggests that genuine expressions of affection, like a smile, can convey deep feelings and foster a bond between two people, creating a moment of profound connection and understanding.
In practice
During a romantic dinner, when expressing your affection for your partner.
Don't be so anxious about it,' she laughed. 'I'm not used to being loved. I wouldn't know what to do; I never got the trick of it.' She looked down at him, shy and fatigued. 'So here we are. I told you years ago that I had the makings of Cinderella.' He took her hand; she drew it back instinctively and then replaced it in his. 'Beg your pardon. Not even used to being touched. But I'm not afraid of you, if you stay quiet and don't move suddenly.
The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.
It was about then [1920] that I wrote a line which certain people will not let me forget: "She was a faded but still lovely woman of twenty-seven."
The words seemed to bite physically into Gatsby.
But you can love more than just one person, can't you?
A sudden gust of rain blew over them and then another - as if small liquid clouds were bouncing along the land. Lightning entered the sea far off and the air blew full of crackling thunder. The table cloths blew around the pillars. They blew and blew and blew. The flags twisted around the red chairs like live things, the banners were ragged, the corners of the table tore off through the burbling billowing ends of the cloths.
He's all my exercise, my mirth, my matter.
I will soothe you and heal you, I will bring you roses. I too have been covered with thorns.
One must learn to be a sponge if one wants to be loved by hearts that overflow.
To show great love for God and our neighbor we need not do great things. It is how much love we put in the doing that makes our offering something beautiful for God.
Life and hope for the world are to be found only in the deeds of love.
Ask nothing more of me sweet; All I can give you I give; Heart of my heart were it more, More would be laid at your feet.
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