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I dare not always touch her, lest the kiss leave my lips…

“I dare not always touch her, lest the kiss leave my lips charred. Yea, Lord, a little bliss, brief bitter bliss, one hath for a great sin; Nathless thou knowest how sweet a thing it is.” quote by Algernon Charles Swinburne
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““I dare not always touch her, lest the kiss leave my lips charred. Yea, Lord, a little bliss, brief bitter bliss, one hath for a great sin; Nathless thou knowest how sweet a thing it is.””

Algernon Charles Swinburne

About This Quote

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

The speaker fears intimacy may cause pain, yet seeks fleeting bliss despite moral conflict.

In simple terms: Intimacy risks pain but offers brief joy.

Key Takeaway

Balance desire with caution.

Themes

love desire morality

Mood

conflicted poetic

Type

literary emotional

When to use this quote

  • romantic relationships
  • personal boundaries
  • ethical dilemmas

Key Concepts

temptation guilt

Questions to Reflect On

  • What limits do you set for intimacy?
  • How do you reconcile pleasure with conscience?
A Different Perspective

Desire can lead to lasting harm.

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