“Incidentally, I only have one cavity, and as much as my dentist asks me to, I just can't bring myself to floss.”
In this quote by Stephen Chbosky, the author humorously reflects on the common struggle many people face with dental hygiene, particularly flossing. His candid admission provides a window into the juxtaposition of health awareness and human behavior.
Chbosky's statement begins with the word “Incidentally,” which hints at a casual, almost offhand approach to discussing a serious topic like dental health. The phrase indicates that he doesn’t intend to engage in a deep moral lesson about oral hygiene; instead, he’s sharing a personal anecdote that many can relate to.
The mention of having “one cavity” also underscores a sense of relief or pride, as if confessing that the dental situation isn’t as dire as it could be. This sets the stage for the punchline of the quote: his inability to bring himself to floss. Here, Chbosky strikes a chord with readers who might feel guilt over not adhering to recommended dental practices. The relatability of the struggle evokes a sense of camaraderie with others who share the same challenge.
Moreover, the phrase “as much as my dentist asks me to” highlights the tension between professional advice and personal action. It signals the gap that often exists between knowing what is right and actually doing it. This reflects a broader human tendency to prioritize convenience and immediate gratification over diligence and discipline.
Ultimately, Chbosky's quote invites readers to chuckle at the small imperfections of life. It acknowledges the challenges of maintaining good habits while also fostering a light-hearted view of our common shortcomings. The humor in his struggle serves as a reminder that we are all a work in progress, often caught between desire for health and the difficulties of habit formation.
“For me personally, as much as I don't understand my mom and dad and as much as I feel sorry for them sometimes, I can't help but love them very much.”
“I had an amazing feeling when I finally held the tape in my hand. I just thought to myself that in the palm of my hand, there was this one tape that had all these memories and feelings and great joy and sadness. Right there in the palm of my hand. And I thought about how many people have loved those songs, And how many people got through a lot of bad times because of those songs. And how many people enjoyed good times with those songs. And how much those songs really mean. I think it would be great to have written one of those songs, I bed if I wrote one of them, I would be very proud. I hope the people who wrote those songs are happy. I hope they feel it's enough. I really do because they've made me happy. And I'm only one person.”
“It's just hard to see a friend hurt this much. Especially when you can't do anything except 'be there.' I just want to make him stop hurting, but I can't. So I just follow him around whenever he wants to show me his world.”
“It's sweet and everything, but it's like you're not even there sometimes. It's great that you can listen and be a shoulder to someone, but what about when someone doesn't need a shoulder? What if they need the arms or something like that? You can't just sit there and put everybody's lives ahead of yours and think that counts as love. You just can't. You have to do things." "Like what?" I asked. My mouth was dry. "I don't know. Like take their hands when the slow song comes up for a change. Or be the one who asks someone for a date. Or tell people what you need. Or what you want.”
“My sister was the one who told me where babies come from. My sister was also the one who laughed when I immediately asked her where babies go to.”
“All I could do is lie there and think about how much her voice changed when she asked me if she was pretty, and how much she changed when I answered.”