In Toni Morrison's novel "Jazz," a character expresses a profound insight about love and loss. She suggests that those who have passed away create an insurmountable challenge for the living when it comes to love. This implies that memories and past relationships with the deceased loom large, making it nearly impossible for the living to compete with the idealized versions of love associated with those who are gone.

This quote highlights a theme of the novel, where characters grapple with the complexities of love, longing, and the shadows cast by the past. It underscores the deep emotional struggles that arise when trying to move on from lost love, suggesting that such struggles often lead individuals to confront their own vulnerabilities and the pain of unfulfilled desires.