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This have I known always: Love is no more than the wide…

“This have I known always: Love is no more than the wide blossom which the wind assails, than the great tide that treads the shifting shore, strewing fresh wreckage gathered in the gales; Pity me that the heart is slow to learn, that the swift mind beholds at every turn.” quote by Edna St. Vincent Millay
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“This have I known always: Love is no more than the wide blossom which the wind assails, than the great tide that treads the shifting shore, strewing fresh wreckage gathered in the gales; Pity me that the heart is slow to learn, that the swift mind beholds at every turn.”

Edna St. Vincent Millay

About This Quote

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

The quote likens love to a forceful wind and tide that bring both beauty and wreckage, highlighting love’s power to both uplift and overwhelm, while noting that the heart learns slowly compared to the quick mind.

In simple terms: Love is a powerful, unpredictable force that can both inspire and hurt, and the heart often lags behind the mind.

Key Takeaway

Recognize love’s intensity and give yourself time to understand it.

Themes

love vulnerability perception nature emotion

Mood

reflective melancholic hopeful

Type

poetic philosophical emotional

When to use this quote

  • relationships
  • personal growth
  • coping with heartbreak
  • artistic creation

Key Concepts

romanticism impermanence psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you balance the wild and gentle sides of love?
  • What can the mind teach the heart about love?
A Different Perspective

The metaphor may romanticize turbulence, overlooking calm, stable aspects of love.

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