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My wife was an opera singer, you know. She bellowed her…

“My wife was an opera singer, you know. She bellowed her way through Wagner as a Valkyrie. I married her and made her give up the theatre, to my eternal cost. She was to go on acting for myself alone. A performance at his own expense, lasting for more than twenty years, tends to wear out your…” quote by Jean Anouilh
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“My wife was an opera singer, you know. She bellowed her way through Wagner as a Valkyrie. I married her and made her give up the theatre, to my eternal cost. She was to go on acting for myself alone. A performance at his own expense, lasting for more than twenty years, tends to wear out your spectator.”

Jean Anouilh

About This Quote

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

A husband regrets sacrificing his wife's artistic passion, realizing that forcing her to abandon her art leads to personal emptiness and loss.

In simple terms: Regretting forcing a partner to give up their passion, causing personal loss.

Key Takeaway

Respect partners' passions; avoid imposing your will.

Themes

marriage art regret identity

Mood

melancholic thoughtful

Type

dramatic reflective

When to use this quote

  • marriage counseling
  • career decisions
  • creative pursuits
  • life planning

Key Concepts

self-sacrifice personal freedom long-term consequences

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you support a partner’s dreams?
  • What costs arise from suppressing creativity?
A Different Perspective

Balancing personal desire with partner’s autonomy is complex.

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