In "Dead Man's Walk" by Larry McMurtry, the character Caleb expresses a strong belief that the price of love is too high to pay for mere companionship. He suggests that the sacrifices and emotional toll that love brings are not worth the fleeting happiness of being with someone. Instead, he'd prefer solitude over the challenges love can bring.
Caleb's perspective reflects a deeper contemplation of relationships and the complexities of human connections. He asserts his independence by rejecting the notion that he needs love to feel complete, indicating a desire to maintain his own sense of self without the complications that loving someone can introduce.