He saw clearly, immediately, that the man didn't care about the gift's value, didn't care about the gift even, but cared profoundly for the act of receiving as though the gift were a tribute, a confirmation of his self, his being, his reality. He found no pleasure in what he was taking but in the act of taking itself. Ninotchka Rosca
About This Quote

This passage from Don DeLillo's "Libra" describes a man who receives a precious golden light in a box that he does not have the courage to open. He is afraid that if he opens the box, which is "actually a dream," he will lose the treasure of his life. In this passage, we see an emotional response to receiving a priceless gift. In contrast, the narrator of the book experiences excitement at the prospect of opening the box.

Source: State Of War

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