Pulling through is what people do around here. There is a kind of bravery in their lives that isn’t bravery at all. It is automatic, unflinching, a mix of man and machine, consuming and unquestionable obligation meeting illness move for move in a giant even-steven game of chess – an unending round of something that looks like shadowboxing, though between love and death, which is the shadow? “Everyone admires us for our courage,” says one man. “They have no idea what they’re talking about.”“Courage requires options,” the man adds.“There are options,” says a woman with a thick suede headband. “You could give up. You could fall apart.”“No you can’t. Nobody does. I’ve never seen it,” says the man. “Well, not really fall apart.

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About Lorrie Moore

Lorrie Moore was a contemporary American fiction writer. Lorrie Moore is an American writer, critic, and essayist. She is best known for her short stories, some of which have won major awards. Read more on Wikipedia →

Themes

  • Courage — Facing fear, adversity, and uncertainty with bravery
  • Death — Contemplations on mortality, loss, and the legacy we leave
  • Love — Quotes exploring romantic love, compassion, and human connection

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