Unable to rid myself of it, since I heard your song…
““Unable to rid myself of it, since I heard your song humming ever in my head, beheld your feet dancing always on my breviary, felt even at night, in my dreams, your form in contact wih my own, I desired to see you again, to touch you, to know who you were, to see whether I should really find you like the ideal image which I had retained of you, to shatter my dream, perchance with reality. At all events, I hoped that a new impression would efface the first, and the first had become insupportable. I sought you. I saw you once more. Calamity! When I had seen you twice, I wanted to see you a thousand times, I wanted to see you always. Then - how stop myself on that slope of hell? - then I no longer belonged to myself.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Obsessive longing for an idealized lover leads to self‑destruction and loss of self.
In simple terms: Intense desire can consume identity.
Key Takeaway
Seek balance between longing and self‑care.
Themes
love
obsession
identity
Mood
tragic
poetic
Type
literary
emotional
When to use this quote
- relationship counseling
- creative writing
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
romanticism
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “ideal” mean to you?
- How can desire be healthy?
A Different Perspective
Idealization may ignore reality, causing pain.