Friendship Quote by August Strindberg
““As one takes leave of a friend, a place, How the loss of all one has loved rises up, And regret for what one has destroyed… Ah, now I know all the agony of living, So this is what it means to be mortal— — — One misses even what one has not valued, One regrets even misdeeds never done… One yearns to go, and yet one longs to stay… So the heart’s two halves are rent asunder, As if wild horses were pulling it apart, torn to pieces By contradiction, indecision, disharmony… —””
About This Quote
Source Play: The Ghost Sonata, 1907
The speaker reflects on mortality, loss, and the paradox of longing for both departure and staying, revealing inner conflict and regret.
In simple terms: Mortal regret and longing cause inner conflict.
Key Takeaway
Accept loss, seek peace.
Themes
mortality
regret
conflict
longing
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- grief counseling
- personal reflection
- creative writing
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
paradox
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to truly value what you have?
- How can one reconcile the desire to leave and stay?
A Different Perspective
The yearning may be romantic by indecision and contradictory desires.
