Is it love to worship a saint in heaven, whom you dare not…
““Is it love to worship a saint in heaven, whom you dare not touch, who hovers above you like a cloud, which floats away from you even as you gaze? To love is to feel one being in the world at one with us, our equal in sin as well as in virtue. To love, for us men, is to clasp one woman with our arms, feeling that she lives and breathes just as we do, suffers as we do, thinks with us, loves with us, and, above all, sins with us. Your mock saint who stands in a niche is not a woman if she have not suffered, still less a woman if she have not sinned. Fall at the feet of your idol an you wish, but drag her down to your level after that- the only level she should ever reach, that of your heart.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Love is genuine connection with another human, sharing both virtues and flaws, not idealizing distant saints.
In simple terms: Love means sharing life, not idolizing.
Key Takeaway
Seek real relationships, not distant idols.
Themes
love
humanity
authenticity
Mood
reflective
intimate
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- marriage
- friendship
- community building
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
shared experience
vulnerability
equality
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance admiration with genuine connection?
- What does it mean to love someone fully?
A Different Perspective
Idealizing distant figures can hinder true intimacy.