“How pointless life could be, what a foolish business of inventing things to love, just so you could dread losing them.”

—  Barbara Kingsolver, book Prodigal Summer

Source: Prodigal Summer

Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "How pointless life could be, what a foolish business of inventing things to love, just so you could dread losing them." by Barbara Kingsolver?
Barbara Kingsolver photo
Barbara Kingsolver119
American author, poet and essayist 1955

Related quotes

Cornelia Funke photo

“Why did death make life taste so much sweeter? Why could the heart love only what it could also lose?”

Cornelia Funke Inkheart trilogy

Source: Inkdeath

“It's the pointless things that give your life meaning. Friendship, compassion, art, love. All of them pointless. But they're what keeps life from being meaningless.”

Tim Winton (1960) Australian writer

David Levithan photo

“Love is so painful, how could you ever wish it on anybody? And love is so essential, how could you ever stand in its way?”

David Levithan (1972) American author and editor

Source: Two Boys Kissing

Maurice de Vlaminck photo

“[how anyone could] remain an individual if he had to conform with senseless orders and old foolish things without being asked his opinion on them.”

Maurice de Vlaminck (1876–1958) French painter

Quote of De Vlaminck c. 1898-99; as cited in Vlaminck, Klaus G. Perls, The Hyperion Press, New York 1941, p. 42
It was in these years in the military that Vlaminck was converted to anarchist thinking. In a writing then he questioned how anyone could..
Quotes dated

Nicole Krauss photo

“The truth is the thing I invented so I could live.”

Nicole Krauss The History of Love

Source: The History of Love

Jack Vance photo

““Tell me, then! What is so important?”
“Your life! I could not bear that you should lose it!”
“I feel much the same. Say on.””

Jack Vance Lyonesse Trilogy

Source: Lyonesse Trilogy (1983-1989), Madouc (1989), Chapter 10, section 2 (p. 948)

Kate DiCamillo photo

“There," she said. She rocked him back and forth. "There, you foolish, beautiful boy who wants to change the world. There, there. And who could keep from loving you? Who could keep from loving a boy so brave and true?”

Kate DiCamillo The Magician's Elephant

Source: The Magician's Elephant

Dolly Parton photo

“Wouldn't it be something if we could have things we love in abudance without their losing that special attraction the want of them held for us.”

Dolly Parton (1946) American singer-songwriter and actress

Source: Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business

Natalie Merchant photo

“once I could love, I could trust, I could not doubt
but that was just about the worst thing that I could do
it was just about the worst thing that I could do”

Natalie Merchant (1963) American singer-songwriter

Song lyrics, Motherland (2001), The Worst Thing
Variant: once I came close to that most elusive fire
burning with hopeless love and desire
but it was just about the worst thing that I could do
it was just about the worst thing I could do

Related topics