And enough for me that when my hand touched your shoulder, you leaned on me; and when you felt me slip away, you called my name.
Orson Scott CardRead
She worked her toes into the sand, feeling the tiny delicious pain of the friction of tiny chips of silicon against the tender flesh between her toes. That's life. It hurts, it's dirty, and it feels very, very good.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Life is a mix of pleasure and pain, both of which are essential experiences.
This quote emphasizes the duality of life, suggesting that both the painful and pleasurable experiences contribute to the richness of existence. The metaphor of feeling the sand between one's toes symbolizes the beauty and discomfort found in everyday life, reflecting how challenges can enhance our appreciation of joyful moments.
Themes
LifePainPleasureExperienceExistence
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about embracing life's challenges, this quote serves as a reminder that discomfort can lead to growth.
More from Orson Scott Card
All quotes →The world is always a democracy in times of flux, and the man with the best voice will win.
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Never mind that the story had turned out to be lies and foolishness—there was always folks stupid enough to say, Where there's smoke there's fire, when the saying should have been, Where there's scandalous lies there's always malicious believers and spreaders-around, regardless of evidence.
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The lives of all people flow through time, and, regardless of how brutal one moment may be, how filled with grief or pain or fear, time flows through all lives equally.
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You take a step, then another. That's the journey. But to take a step with your eyes open is not a journey at all, it's a remaking of your own mind.
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I've had your tears with mine, and you've had mine with yours. I think that's more intimate even than a kiss.
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