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Perhaps the reason we are unable to love is that we yearn to be loved, that is, we demand something (love) from our partner instead of delivering ourselves up to him demand-free and asking for nothing but his company.
Tereza accepted Karenin for what he was; she did not try to make him over in her image;
Tereza broke with her not because she was the mother she was but because she was a mother.)
Human time does not turn in a circle; it runs ahead in a straight line. That is why man cannot be happy: happiness is the longing for repetition.
Assuming the role of Death is a terrifying thing.
She had always secretly reproached him for not loving her enough.
she had set a lifetime of her weaknesses against Tomas. We all have a tendency to consider strength the culprit and weakness the innocent victim. But now Tereza realized that in her case the opposite was true!
“Haven’t you noticed I’ve been happy here, Tereza?” Tomas said. “Surgery was your mission,” she said. “Missions are stupid, Tereza. I have no mission. No one has. And it’s a terrific relief to realize you’re free, free of all missions.”
She was experiencing the same odd happiness and odd sadness as then. The sadness meant: we are at the last station. The happiness meant: we are together. The sadness was form, the happiness content. Happiness filled the space of sadness.
