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To crave and to have are as like as a thing and its…

“To crave and to have are as like as a thing and its shadow. For when does a berry break upon the tongue as sweetly as when one longs to taste it, and when is the taste refracted into it so many hues and savors of ripeness and earth, and when do our senses know any thing so utterly as when we lack…” quote by Marilynne Robinson
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““To crave and to have are as like as a thing and its shadow. For when does a berry break upon the tongue as sweetly as when one longs to taste it, and when is the taste refracted into it so many hues and savors of ripeness and earth, and when do our senses know any thing so utterly as when we lack it?””

Marilynne Robinson

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 likens desire to a shadow, noting that longing intensifies the experience of the object, making it richer when absent.

In simple terms: Desire makes the object seem richer.

Key Takeaway

Recognize how longing shapes perception.

Themes

desire perception longing

Mood

contemplative poetic

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • art appreciation
  • food tasting
  • travel
  • creative writing

Key Concepts

phenomenology psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • What do you long for?
  • How does longing affect your enjoyment?
A Different Perspective

Desire can also cause frustration and dissatisfaction.

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