"Homesickness is nothing. Fifty percent of the people in the world are homesick all the time"

In this quote, John Cheever is suggesting that homesickness is a common sensation that many people experience. He mentions that it is "absolutely nothing," suggesting that it is not a significant or severe emotion. Cheever then goes on to declare that a big part of the world's population, specifically fifty percent, are homesick "all the time." This might be analyzed as a commentary on the human condition, recommending that a continuous yearning for home is a universal experience. It might also be seen as a suggestion to not let homesickness consume us, as it is a typical feeling that lots of people are able to cope with.