Burned Quote by A.S. Byatt
““We rode back from Richmond decorously side by side on the top of a bus. It was as though my left side (her side) burned and was so to speak dissolving into steam, or gases. Other people may often have experienced this secret journeying with the intention of sex at the end, but I was new to it, as I was new to what Fulla had done to my skin and bone-marrow, my fingers and toes, not to mention the most obvious part, or parts of me. I could have stroked her, or gripped her, or licked her, all that long way back, but putting it off, waiting, keeping still, looking uninterested, was so much more exciting…””
About This Quote
Source Short Story: “The Secret Journey”, 1992
A transformative, erotic encounter blends physical desire with a profound, almost mystical awakening, where restraint heightens anticipation.
In simple terms: Erotic restraint intensifies spiritual awakening.
Key Takeaway
Explore desire and restraint.
Themes
desire
awakening
intimacy
self‑discovery
transformation
Mood
intense
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- intimate relationships
- creative writing
- mindful sexuality
Key Concepts
Erotic tension
spiritual metamorphosis
bodily awareness
Questions to Reflect On
- What does restraint reveal about desire?
- How can intimacy become a path to self‑knowledge?
A Different Perspective
Such intense experiences may be unsettling for some readers.
