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I am athirst for thy beauty; I am hungry for thy body; and…

“I am athirst for thy beauty; I am hungry for thy body; and neither wine nor apples can appease my desire. What shall I do now, Iokanaan? Neither the floods nor the great waters can quench my passion. I was a princess, and thou didst scorn me. I was a virgin, and thou didst take my virginity from…” quote by Oscar Wilde
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““I am athirst for thy beauty; I am hungry for thy body; and neither wine nor apples can appease my desire. What shall I do now, Iokanaan? Neither the floods nor the great waters can quench my passion. I was a princess, and thou didst scorn me. I was a virgin, and thou didst take my virginity from me. I was chaste, and thou didst fill my veins with fire . . .””

Oscar Wilde

About This Quote

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

The speaker expresses an insatiable, consuming desire that cannot be satisfied by ordinary pleasures, highlighting a desperate yearning for love or passion.

In simple terms: Intense longing that cannot be quenched.

Key Takeaway

Seek deeper connection, not fleeting pleasures.

Themes

desire passion unrequited love power dynamics

Mood

longing dramatic intense

Type

poetic dramatic emotional

When to use this quote

  • courtship
  • forbidden love
  • personal crisis
  • creative inspiration

Key Concepts

romantic yearning spiritual thirst female agency

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does true fulfillment look like for you?
  • How can you channel unquenched desire constructively?
A Different Perspective

The metaphor may overstate emotional intensity, ignoring practical limits.

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