--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Was it hardness, was it selfishness, that…" description: "\"Was it hardness, was it selfishness, that she should ask me to risk my life for her own glorification? Such thoughts may come to middle age; but never ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/arthur-conan-doyle-273_age_was-it-hardness-was-it-selfishness-that_1876424.jpg" --- # Was it hardness, was it selfishness, that she should ask… ![“Was it hardness, was it selfishness, that she should ask me to risk my life for her own glorification? Such thoughts may come to middle age; but never to ardent three-and-twenty in the fever of his first love.” quote by Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/arthur-conan-doyle-273_age_was-it-hardness-was-it-selfishness-that_1876424.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/arthur-conan-doyle-273_age_was-it-hardness-was-it-selfishness-that_1876424.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/arthur-conan-doyle-273_age_was-it-hardness-was-it-selfishness-that_1876424.jpg) > “Was it hardness, was it selfishness, that she should ask me to risk my life for her own glorification? Such thoughts may come to middle age; but never to ardent three-and-twenty in the fever of his first love.” [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A lover questions whether love demands self‑sacrifice for another’s glory, contrasting youthful passion with mature reflection. **In simple terms:** Love may demand sacrifice, but it isn’t always noble. Key Takeaway Consider the cost of love. Themes love self‑sacrifice age passion Mood conflicted thoughtful Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - young love - midlife marriage - career decisions - family obligations Key Concepts Romantic idealism moral dilemma Questions to Reflect On - What would you sacrifice for love? - Is self‑sacrifice always virtuous? A Different Perspective Youthful idealism can blind one to realistic expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Age Ardent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age-ardent-2623406/) [Ask me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-me/) [Fever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fever/) [First love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-love/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Glorification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glorification/) [Glorification Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glorification-thoughts-2623407/) [Hardness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardness/) [Hardness Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardness-selfishness-2623405/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Middle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle/) [Middle age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-age/) [Middle ages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-ages/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishness/) [Selfishness Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishness-ask-2623404/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Twenties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twenties/) ## Related quotes > [I am confident that nobody... will accuse me of selfishness if I ask to spend time, while I am still in good health, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/i-am-confident-that-nobody-will-accuse-me-of-selfishness-if-i-ask-to/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [And as long as man has walked on this Earth, there has been God. 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