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I fell in love with the young assistant professor who took…

“I fell in love with the young assistant professor who took me through my first poetry course. Really in love--that is, enough to alarm Mother. Although naturally I never breathed my feelings to a soul--although naturally the first time she suggested that I might invite him home for tea I went to…” quote by Agnes De Mille
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““I fell in love with the young assistant professor who took me through my first poetry course. Really in love--that is, enough to alarm Mother. Although naturally I never breathed my feelings to a soul--although naturally the first time she suggested that I might invite him home for tea I went to my room and shook for forty minutes. So she may have noticed something. In any case, in order to patrol the situation, she enrolled in his courses. And, as we bore the same name, she was seated beside me where not the flickering of an eyelash escaped her attention. I never have heard of this happening to anyone else in the history of education.””

Agnes De Mille

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A student recounts a secret, unreciprocated love for a professor, describing obsessive behavior and social awkwardness.

In simple terms: A student secretly loves a professor and feels intense anxiety.

Key Takeaway

Acknowledge boundaries and seek healthy relationships.

Themes

love obsession academic life social anxiety

Mood

melancholic reflective introspective

Type

fiction personal essay

When to use this quote

  • college campus
  • creative writing
  • personal confession

Key Concepts

unrequited affection power dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

  • What are the ethical implications of student‑professor relationships?
  • How can one manage intense feelings in professional settings?
A Different Perspective

The narrative may romanticize unhealthy power imbalances.

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