The Prince of Tides

by Pat Conroy

“There’s only one thing difficult about being a man, Doctor. Only one thing. They don’t teach us how to love. It’s a secret they keep from us. We spend our whole lives trying to get someone to teach us how to do it and we never find out how. The only people we can ever love are other men because we understand the loneliness engendered by this thing denied. When a woman loves us we’re overpowered by it, filled with dread, helpless and chastened before it. Why women don’t understand us is that we can never return their love in full measure. We have nothing to return. We were never granted the gift.” “When men talk about the agony of being men,” she said, “they can never quite get away from the recurrent theme of self-pity.” “And when women talk about being women, they can never quite get away from the recurrent theme of blaming men.” “It’s not easy being a woman in this society.” “Boo-hoo. Let me tell you something, Lowenstein. Being a man sucks. I’m so sick of being strong, supportive, wise, and kingly that I may puke if I have to pretend I’m any of those things again.” “I haven’t seen much evidence that you’re any of those things, Tom,” said the imperturbable Dr. Lowenstein. “Most often I don’t know what you are or what you represent or what you stand for. There are times you’re one of the sweetest men I’ve ever met. But there are other times, always unpredictable, when you become bitter and cornered. Now, you tell me you can’t feel love. Other times you claim to love ever...