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True, 'tis an unhappy circumstance of life that love…

“True, 'tis an unhappy circumstance of life that love should ever die before us, and that the man so often should outlive the lover. But say what you will, 'tis better to be left than never to have been loved. To pass our youth in dull indifference, to refuse the sweets of life because they once…” quote by William Congreve
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““True, 'tis an unhappy circumstance of life that love should ever die before us, and that the man so often should outlive the lover. But say what you will, 'tis better to be left than never to have been loved. To pass our youth in dull indifference, to refuse the sweets of life because they once must leave us, is as preposterous as to wish to have been born old, because we one day must be old. For my part, my youth may wear and waste, but it shall never rust in my possession.””

William Congreve

About This Quote

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

Love’s fleeting nature makes life’s pleasures bittersweet, yet living without love feels emptier.

In simple terms: Love is fleeting but essential.

Key Takeaway

Cherish love while it lasts.

Themes

love mortality philosophy

Mood

melancholic contemplative

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • romantic relationships
  • aging
  • personal growth

Key Concepts

ephemeral joy human longing

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does it mean to love fully?
  • How can we balance love and loss?
A Different Perspective

Focusing only on loss can ignore present joy.

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