...it is foreign to a man's nature to go on loving a…
““...it is foreign to a man's nature to go on loving a person when he is told that he must and shall be that person's lover. There would be a much likelier chance of his doing it if he were told not to love. If the marriage ceremony consisted in an oath and signed contract between the parties to cease loving from that day forward, in consideration of personal possession being given, and to avoid each other's society as much as possible in public, there would be more loving couples than there are now. Fancy the secret meetings between the perjuring husband and wife, the denials of having seen each other, the clambering in at bedroom windows, and the hiding in closets! There'd be little cooling then.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Hardy satirically suggests that legally enforced prohibition of love would paradoxically increase secret desire, highlighting the tension between social contracts and natural affection.
In simple terms: Prohibiting love may intensify secret longing.
Key Takeaway
Question the limits of social constraints on love.
Themes
love
law
desire
social norms
paradox
Mood
thoughtful
ironic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- Legal counseling
- relationship counseling
- cultural critique
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
Satire
human nature
marriage contracts
Questions to Reflect On
- Do rules always suppress desire?
- When is love justified beyond law?
A Different Perspective
The scenario is unrealistic and ignores genuine emotional bonds.