I said I splendidly loved you; it’s not true. Such long…
““I said I splendidly loved you; it’s not true. Such long swift tides stir not a land-locked sea. On gods or fools the high risk falls–on you– The clean clear bitter-sweet that’s not for me. Love soars from earth to ecstasies unwist. Love is flung Lucifer-like from Heaven to Hell. But–there are wanderers in the middle mist, Who cry for shadows, clutch, and cannot tell Whether they love at all, or, loving, whom: An old song’s lady, a fool in fancy dress, Or phantoms, or their own face on the gloom; For love of Love, or from heart’s loneliness. Pleasure’s not theirs, nor pain. They doubt, and sigh, And do not love at all. Of these am I””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Love is portrayed as chaotic, contradictory, and elusive, mixing divine and demonic imagery
In simple terms: Love is confusing and intense
Key Takeaway
Accept love’s paradoxes without seeking certainty
Themes
love
paradox
emotion
Mood
melancholic
introspective
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- artistic inspiration
- self‑reflection
Key Concepts
divine vs demonic
identity
longing
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to love without knowing the object?
- How do contradictory images shape our view of love?
A Different Perspective
Romantic idealism may overlook practical realities