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I WOULD LIKE, to begin with, to say that though parents…

“I WOULD LIKE, to begin with, to say that though parents, husbands, children, lovers and friends are all very well, they are not dogs. In my day and turn having been each of the above,—except that instead of husbands I was wives,—I know what I am talking about, and am well acquainted with the ups…” quote by Elizabeth von Arnim
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““I WOULD LIKE, to begin with, to say that though parents, husbands, children, lovers and friends are all very well, they are not dogs. In my day and turn having been each of the above,—except that instead of husbands I was wives,—I know what I am talking about, and am well acquainted with the ups and downs, the daily ups and downs, the sometimes almost hourly ones in the thin-skinned, which seem inevitably to accompany human loves. Dogs are free from these fluctuations. Once they love, they love steadily, unchangingly, till their last breath. That is how I like to be loved. Therefore I will write of dogs.””

Elizabeth von Arnim

About This Quote

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

The writer contrasts human relationships, which are volatile, with dogs' steady, unconditional love, expressing a desire for that constancy in being loved.

In simple terms: Dogs love consistently; humans often fluctuate.

Key Takeaway

Seek relationships that offer steady, unconditional love.

Themes

love relationships constancy human nature

Mood

reflective thoughtful

Type

personal philosophical

When to use this quote

  • friendship
  • romantic partnership
  • family dynamics
  • pet ownership
  • therapy animals

Key Concepts

psychology emotional stability comparative analysis

Questions to Reflect On

  • Can you identify moments of steady love in your life?
  • What qualities make a relationship feel reliable?
A Different Perspective

Human love can also be deep and loyal; not all humans are inconsistent.

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