If one places one’s entire spiritual sustenance on another person, the moment the relationship breaks down, the other leaves, or their will changes, one’s own spiritual world will collapse, plunging one into utter nihilism and agony — this is precisely the root of the tragedy that repeats itself throughout the Buendía family in One Hundred Years of Solitude.

García Márquez’s intention is not to deny emotions, but to oppose the extreme state of regarding another person as one’s only spiritual pillar. Healthy interpersonal relationships are "icing on the cake," not "charcoal in the snow": only when you already possess spiritual nourishment such as music, books, and nature can human connections become a warm supplement, rather than a lifeline to cling to.