Skip to content

The life so brief, the art so long in the learning, the…

“The life so brief, the art so long in the learning, the attempt so hard, the conquest so sharp, the fearful joy that ever slips away so quickly - by all this I mean love, which so sorely astounds my feeling with its wondrous operation, that when I think upon it I scarce know whether I wake or sleep.” quote by Geoffrey Chaucer
Download Open image
“The life so brief, the art so long in the learning, the attempt so hard, the conquest so sharp, the fearful joy that ever slips away so quickly - by all this I mean love, which so sorely astounds my feeling with its wondrous operation, that when I think upon it I scarce know whether I wake or sleep.”

Geoffrey Chaucer

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 a brief, intense experience that blurs waking and dreaming, overwhelming the heart with wonder and fear.

In simple terms: Love feels fleeting, intense, and confusing, mixing joy and fear.

Key Takeaway

Embrace love’s intensity despite its uncertainty.

Themes

love transience emotion

Mood

reflective poetic

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • romantic relationships
  • artistic inspiration
  • personal reflection

Key Concepts

philosophy psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does love teach us about vulnerability?
  • How do we balance love’s joy and fear?
A Different Perspective

Love’s intensity can lead to pain and disillusionment.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Geoffrey Chaucer

Explore all 217 Geoffrey Chaucer quotes

More Art quotes

Browse all 48,643 Art quotes