“What do you know?”“Almost everything. That almost part can be a real kick in the teeth sometimes.”“What do you want, then?”“What I can’t have.” Wit turned to him, eyes solemn. “Same as everyone else, Kaladin Stormblessed.”
— Brandon Sanderson
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We all carry a secret longing for the things that feel just out of reach. Brandon Sanderson captures this universal truth perfectly: “What do you know?” “Almost everything. That almost part can be a real kick in the teeth sometimes.” “What do you want, then?” “What I can’t have.” Wit turned to him, eyes solemn. “Same as everyone else, Kaladin Stormblessed.” What is a lesson you've learned from the things you couldn't have? Share your story below. 👇
About this quote
There is a profound, quiet ache in the word 'almost.' We often spend our lives gathering knowledge, chasing success, and building a map of how the world works, only to find that the things we desire most remain just beyond our reach. This frustration—the 'kick in the teeth'—is a universal part of the human experience. It is the gap between who we are and who we wish to be, and the space between what we possess and what we crave. However, there is a hidden beauty in this shared longing. When we realize that the most brilliant minds and the strongest souls also struggle with an unattainable void, our isolation transforms into connection. We discover that our deepest insecurities and unmet desires are not failures, but the very threads that bind us to every other living soul. To want what you cannot have is not a curse; it is the heartbeat of being human. Embrace the 'almost' not as a sign of lack, but as a reminder of your humanity. Life’s richness often comes not from the attainment of every goal, but from the grace we find in the pursuit and the empathy we offer others who are walking the same lonely road. You are not alone in your longing; you are simply part of the collective human story.
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Photo by Fabrizio Frigeni on Unsplash
