At the sting in her eyes, she remembered for him that there must be no tears in his.
Eudora Welty The Optimist's Daughter
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The Optimist's Daughter by Eudora Welty explores the complexities of grief and memory through its protagonist. In a poignant moment, the character feels a deep emotional pain, symbolized by "the sting in her eyes." This moment highlights her internal struggle as she navigates her sorrow while trying to maintain strength for someone else. It illustrates the burden of emotional resilience when faced with loss.

The quote reflects a universal theme of sacrifice in relationships, emphasizing the expectation to shield loved ones from the weight of sadness. The character's commitment to not letting tears define their experience shows a deep sense of duty to support others despite her own hurt. This sentiment underlines the idea that caring for others often means putting their needs ahead of one's own emotional turmoil.

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The Optimist's Daughter
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Eudora Welty
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Other quotes in The Optimist's Daughter

Up home we loved a good storm coming, we'd fly outdoors and run up and down to meet it," her mother used to say. "We children would run as fast as we could go along the top of that mountain when the wind was blowing, holding our arms right open. The wilder it blew the better we liked it.
Eudora Welty The Optimist's Daughter
Up home we loved a good storm coming, we'd fly outdoors and run up and down to meet it," her mother used to say. "We children would run as fast as we could go along the top of that mountain when the wind was blowing, holding our arms right open. The wilder it blew the better we liked it.
For there is hate as well as love, she supposed, in the coming together and continuing of our lives.
Eudora Welty The Optimist's Daughter
For there is hate as well as love, she supposed, in the coming together and continuing of our lives.
At the sting in her eyes, she remembered for him that there must be no tears in his.
Eudora Welty The Optimist's Daughter
At the sting in her eyes, she remembered for him that there must be no tears in his.
You know, sir, this operation is not, in any hands, a hundred percent predictable?""Well, I'm an optimist.""I didn't know there were any more such animals," said Dr. Courtland."Never think you've seen the last of anything
Eudora Welty The Optimist's Daughter
You know, sir, this operation is not, in any hands, a hundred percent predictable?""Well, I'm an optimist.""I didn't know there were any more such animals," said Dr. Courtland."Never think you've seen the last of anything
At their very feet had been the river. The boat came breasting out of the mist, and in they stepped. All new things in life were meant to come like that.
Eudora Welty The Optimist's Daughter
At their very feet had been the river. The boat came breasting out of the mist, and in they stepped. All new things in life were meant to come like that.
For her life, any life, she had to believe, was nothing but the continuity of its love.
Eudora Welty The Optimist's Daughter
For her life, any life, she had to believe, was nothing but the continuity of its love.
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All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
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All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
"That's a huge gamble." "We're long past the time for careful certainty."
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"That's a huge gamble." "We're long past the time for careful certainty."
When had it become so ingrained in her to apologize whenever she wanted something for herself?
Robin Hobb The Rain Wilds...
When had it become so ingrained in her to apologize whenever she wanted something for herself?
Relationships and marriages are hard enough, but you add war into the mix and small fissures become gaping wounds. No one sees what you're seeing - again that clear-eyed, unbiased thing - except your fellow soldiers. It's like one of those movies where only the hero can see the ghosts and everyone else thinks the hero is crazy.
Harlan Coben Fool Me Once
Relationships and marriages are hard enough, but you add war into the mix and small fissures become gaping wounds. No one sees what you're seeing - again that clear-eyed, unbiased thing - except your fellow soldiers. It's like one of those movies where only the hero can see the ghosts and everyone else thinks the hero is crazy.
I think I couldn't love him at all if he was the sort of man to make me choose between him and my writing. And
Meljean Brook The Kraken King and the...
I think I couldn't love him at all if he was the sort of man to make me choose between him and my writing. And
Sociologists have a theory of the looking - glass self. You become what the most important person in your life {wife, father, boss, etc.} thinks you are. How would my life change if I truly believed the Bible's astounding words about God's love for me, if I looked in the mirror and saw what God sees?
Philip Yancey What's So Amazing About...
Sociologists have a theory of the looking - glass self. You become what the most important person in your life {wife, father, boss, etc.} thinks you are. How would my life change if I truly believed the Bible's astounding words about God's love for me, if I looked in the mirror and saw what God sees?
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