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Nothing moves me more than courage: so total a sacrifice…

“Nothing moves me more than courage: so total a sacrifice deserved complete trust from me. But she never believed that I trusted her, since she did not suspect how much I distrusted others. In spite of appearances to the contrary, I do not regret having yielded to Sophie as much as it lay in my…” quote by Marguerite Yourcenar
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““Nothing moves me more than courage: so total a sacrifice deserved complete trust from me. But she never believed that I trusted her, since she did not suspect how much I distrusted others. In spite of appearances to the contrary, I do not regret having yielded to Sophie as much as it lay in my nature to do; at the first glance I had caught sight of something in her incorruptible, with which one could make a compact as sure, and as dangerous, as with an element itself. Fire may be trusted, provided one knows that its law is to burn, or die.””

Marguerite Yourcenar

About This Quote

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

The passage explores how deep trust and sacrifice intertwine with courage, acknowledging both the danger and inevitability of such bonds.

In simple terms: Trust and courage demand sacrifice, yet they can be perilous.

Key Takeaway

Embrace trust but recognize its risks.

Themes

trust courage sacrifice danger relationships

Mood

reflective serious

Type

literary philosophical reflective

When to use this quote

  • personal relationships
  • leadership decisions
  • conflict resolution
  • ethical dilemmas

Key Concepts

philosophical psychological literary ethical interpersonal

Questions to Reflect On

  • When does trust become reckless?
  • How can one balance courage with caution?
A Different Perspective

Trust can become a liability if not tempered by discernment.

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