“Falling in love like that? Writing poetry, crying at pop songs? Dragging people into photo-booths, taking a while day to make a compilation tape, asking people if they wanted to share your bed, just for company? If you quoted Bob Dylan or T.S. Eliot or, God forbid, Brecht at someone these days they would smile politely and step quietly backwards, and who would blame them?”
Explore This Quote Further
Quote Analysis
In this quote by David Nicholls, the speaker reflects on how expressions of love and emotion have evolved over time, suggesting that the grand gestures and poetic declarations of the past may no longer hold the same significance in modern society. The speaker laments the loss of such heartfelt gestures, noting that quoting famous writers like Bob Dylan, T.S. Eliot, or Brecht may no longer be appreciated in today's world. This quote highlights the changing attitudes towards love and emotion, and the potential disconnect between past romantic ideals and contemporary realities.
The Evolution of Romance in the Modern Era
In today's fast-paced and technology-driven world, the traditional ways of expressing love and affection seem to have lost their charm. David Nicholls highlights this shift in his quote, emphasizing how gestures like writing poetry, making mixtapes, and quoting poets may not have the same impact as they once did. Let's explore the modern relevance of these sentiments.
Examples of Usage
In the quote by David Nicholls, the author reflects on how expressions of love and intimacy have changed over time. Here are a few examples of modern romantic gestures that are contrasted with the traditional ones mentioned in the quote:
- Sending a Spotify playlist of favorite songs instead of making a compilation tape
- Tagging someone in a meaningful quote on social media instead of quoting Bob Dylan or T.S. Eliot
- Sharing a Netflix account for a cozy night in instead of asking someone to share your bed for company
Reflection Questions:
In this quote from David Nicholls, he reflects on how romantic gestures and expressions of emotion have changed over time. Consider the following questions:
- How have societal norms and expectations around love and relationships evolved over the years?
- Do you think there is still value in old-fashioned romantic gestures, or do you believe that modern approaches are more appropriate?
- Have you ever felt hesitant to express your emotions or share your interests with someone because you were afraid of being judged or misunderstood?
- How do you think technology and social media have influenced the way we communicate our feelings to others?
- In what ways have you seen or experienced genuine connections and expressions of love amidst the changing landscape of romance in today's world?
Similar quotes
“It would be inappropiate, undignified, at 38, to conduct friendships or love affairs with the ardour or intensity of a 22 year old. Falling in love like that? Writing poetry? Crying at pop songs? Dragging people into photobooths? Taking a whole day to make a compilation tape? Asking people if they wanted to share your bed, just for company? If you quoted Bob Dylan or TS Eliot or, god forbid, Brecht at someone these days they would smile politely and step quietly backwards, and who would blame them? Ridiculous, at 38, to expect a song or book or film to change your life.”
“No, this, she felt, was real life and if she wasn’t as curious or passionate as she had once been, that was only to be expected. It would be inappropriate, undignified, at thirty-eight, to conduct friendships or love affairs with the ardour and intensity of a twenty-two-year-old. Falling in love like that? Writing poetry, crying at pop songs? Dragging people into photo-booths, taking a whole day to make a compilation tape, asking people if they wanted to share your bed, just for company? If you quoted Bob Dylan or T.S. Eliot or, God forbid, Brecht at someone these days they would smile politely and step quietly backwards, and who would blame them? Ridiculous, at thirty-eight, to expect a song or book or film to change your life. No, everything had evened out and settled down and life was lived against a general background hum of comfort, satisfaction and familiarity. There would be no more of these nerve-jangling highs and lows. The friends they had now would be the friends they had in five, ten, twenty years’ time. They expected to get neither dramatically richer or poorer; they expected to stay healthy for a little while yet. Caught in the middle; middle class, middle-aged; happy in that they were not overly happy. Finally, she loved someone and felt fairly confident that she was loved in return. If someone asked Emma, as they sometimes did at parties, how she and her husband had met, she told them:‘We grew up together.”
“Letters, like compilation tapes, were really vehicles for unexpressed emotions and she was clearly putting far too much time and energy into them.”
“She made a firm resolution, one of the resolutions she was making almost daily these days. No more sleepovers, no more writing poetry, no more wasting time. Time to tidy up your life. Time to start again.”
“What are you going to do with your life?" In one way or another it seemed that people had been asking her this forever; teachers, her parents, friends at three in the morning, but the question had never seemed this pressing and still she was no nearer an answer... "Live each day as if it's your last', that was the conventional advice, but really, who had the energy for that? What if it rained or you felt a bit glandy? It just wasn't practical. Better by far to be good and courageous and bold and to make difference. Not change the world exactly, but the bit around you. Cherish your friends, stay true to your principles, live passionately and fully and well. Experience new things. Love and be loved, if you ever get the chance.”
“What must that be like? To be admired before you’ve even said a word, to be desired two or three hundred times a day by people who have absolutely no idea what you’re like?”