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The windiest militant trash Important Persons shout Is not…

“The windiest militant trash Important Persons shout Is not so crude as our wish: 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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“The windiest militant trash Important Persons shout Is not so crude as our wish: 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.

Human desire for the unattainable drives us, seeking love that is exclusive rather than universal.

In simple terms: We crave what we cannot have, especially unique love.

Key Takeaway

Accept and understand personal longing.

Themes

desire love human nature

Mood

melancholic introspective

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • relationships
  • creative writing
  • self‑reflection

Key Concepts

psychology literature existentialism

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does “to be loved alone” mean to you?
  • How can we balance personal desire with universal compassion?
A Different Perspective

May romanticize unrequited love.

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