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What mad Nijinsky wrote/ About Diaghilev/ Is true of the…

“What mad Nijinsky wrote/ About Diaghilev/ Is true of the normal heart;/ For the error bred in the bone/ Of each woman and each man/ Craves what it cannot have, Not universal love/ But to be loved alone.” quote by W.H. Auden
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““What mad Nijinsky wrote/ About Diaghilev/ Is true of the normal heart;/ For the error bred in the bone/ Of each woman and each man/ Craves what it cannot have, Not universal love/ But to be loved alone.””

W.H. Auden

About This Quote

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

The poem suggests that every person secretly longs to be uniquely loved, a desire that is impossible to fulfill universally, leading to personal frustration and yearning for exclusive affection.

In simple terms: People secretly want to be loved only by one person, which is impossible.

Key Takeaway

Accept the limits of exclusive love.

Themes

desire loneliness unrequited love human nature

Mood

melancholic reflective

Type

poetic philosophical

When to use this quote

  • romantic relationships
  • friendships
  • family dynamics
  • personal introspection

Key Concepts

psychology existential longing social conditioning

Questions to Reflect On

  • Do you seek love that only belongs to you?
  • How does this longing affect your relationships?
A Different Perspective

The desire for exclusive love can cause jealousy and isolation.

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