When I was a young man and very well thought of, I…
““When I was a young man and very well thought of, I couldn't ask aught that the ladies denied. I nibbled their hearts like a handful of raisins, And I never spoke love but I knew that I lied. But I said to myself, 'Ah, they none of them know The secret I shelter and savor and save I wait for the one who will see through my seeming, And I'll know when I love by the way I behave.' The years drifted over like clouds in the heavens; The ladies went by me like snow on the wind. I charmed and I cheated, deceived and dissembled, And I sinned, and I sinned, and I sinned, and I sinned. But I said to myself, 'Ah, they none of them see There's part of me pure as the whisk of a wave. My lady is late but she'll find I've been faithful, And I'll know when I love by the way I behave.' At last came a lady both knowing and tender, Saying, 'you're not at all what they take you to be.' I betrayed her before she had quite finished speaking, And she swallowed cold poison and jumped in the sea. And I say to myself when there's time for a word, As I gracefully grow more debauched and depraved, 'Ah, love may be strong, but a habit is stronger And I knew when I loved by the way I behaved.””
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 reflects on youthful arrogance, deceitful flirtations, and the realization that true love is revealed through consistent, honest behavior rather than fleeting charm.
In simple terms: Love is shown by actions, not words.
Key Takeaway
Judge love by how you act, not by appearances.
Themes
love
deception
self‑awareness
redemption
Mood
reflective
melancholy
cautionary
Type
poetic
narrative
philosophical
When to use this quote
- courtship
- personal reflection
- relationship counseling
- self‑improvement
- creative writing
Key Concepts
authenticity
moral growth
identity
consequences
Questions to Reflect On
- How do your actions betray your stated intentions?
- Can habit ever replace genuine affection?
A Different Perspective
The speaker’s self‑justification may obscure accountability for harm caused.