Fine. Then you’ll be able to tell me: in love does one…
““Fine. Then you’ll be able to tell me: in love does one always behave like a damned fool?” “How do you mean, like a damned fool?” “Well, as if one were half-tight. Skite and blather and swindle.” Lenz burst out laughing. “My dear baby! the whole thing is a swindle. A wonderful swindle by Mama Nature. Look at the plum tree, for instance. Making herself more beautiful than she will be afterwards. It would be just terrible if love had any truck with truth. Thank God the damned moralists can’t get everything under their thumbs.” I sat up. “You mean, without some swindle it just wouldn’t go at all.” “Absolutely not, my child.” “A man can make himself damned ridiculous though,” said I. Lenz grinned. “Mark this one thing, my boy: never, never, never can a man make himself ridiculous in the eyes of a woman by anything he may do on her account. Not even by the most childish performances. Do anything you like—stand on your head, talk the most utter twaddle, swank like a peacock, sing under her window—anything at all but one thing: don’t be matter-of-fact. Don’t be sensible.””
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 portrayed as a chaotic, irrational force that thrives on deception and theatricality, urging men to abandon plainness before women.
In simple terms: Love is wild, deceptive, and theatrical.
Key Takeaway
Embrace playful absurdity in romance.
Themes
love
irrationality
performance
gender dynamics
Mood
playful
ironic
reflective
Type
advice
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- courtship
- first dates
- relationship advice
- creative expression
Key Concepts
deception
authenticity
social expectations
Questions to Reflect On
- How does playfulness affect attraction?
- When is honesty more valuable than performance?
A Different Perspective
Being overly sensible can be unattractive to women.