Anaïs, I don't know how to tell you what I feel. I live in…
![“Anaïs, I don't know how to tell you what I feel. I live in perpetual expectancy. You come and the time slips away in a dream. It is only when you go that I realize completely your presence. And then it is too late. You numb me. [...] This is a little drunken, Anaïs. I am saying to myself "here is…” quote by Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/q/i/017/henry-miller-179_love_ana-s-i-don-t-know-how-to-tell-you-what_1742439.jpg)
““Anaïs, I don't know how to tell you what I feel. I live in perpetual expectancy. You come and the time slips away in a dream. It is only when you go that I realize completely your presence. And then it is too late. You numb me. [...] This is a little drunken, Anaïs. I am saying to myself "here is the first woman with whom I can be absolutely sincere." I remember your saying - "you could fool me, I wouldn't know it." When I walk along the boulevards and think of that. I can't fool you - and yet I would like to. I mean that I can never be absolutely loyal - it's not in me. I love women, or life, too much - which it is, I don't know. But laugh, Anaïs, I love to hear you laugh. You are the only woman who has a sense of gaiety, a wise tolerance - no more, you seem to urge me to betray you. I love you for that. [...] I don't know what to expect of you, but it is something in the way of a miracle. I am going to demand everything of you - even the impossible, because you encourage it. You are really strong. I even like your deceit, your treachery. It seems aristocratic to me.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The narrator wrestles with desire, loyalty, and artistic honesty, confronting love’s contradictions.
In simple terms: Love is messy and contradictory.
Key Takeaway
Embrace honest, imperfect love.
Themes
love
art
contradiction
Mood
introspective
passionate
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- romantic relationships
- creative collaboration
- personal introspection
- artistic expression
Key Concepts
existentialism
desire
loyalty
Questions to Reflect On
- Can love be both sincere and deceptive?
- What does honesty mean in love?
A Different Perspective
Idealizing love may ignore practical limits.