Emotion Quote by Charlotte Brontë
““But if I feel, may I never express?” “Never!” declared Reason. I groaned under her bitter sternness. Never - never - oh, hard word! This hag, this Reason, would not let me look up, or smile, or hope; she could not rest unless I were altogether crushed, cowed, broken-in, and broken down. According to her, I was born only to work for a piece of bread, to await the pains of death, and steadily through all life to despond. Reason might be right; yet no wonder we are glad at times to defy her, to rush from under her rod and give a truant hour to Imagination - her soft, bright foe, our sweet Help, our divine Hope.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, 1847
Reason is portrayed as a harsh, oppressive force that stifles imagination and hope, while imagination offers freedom and divine hope.
In simple terms: Reason oppresses; imagination liberates.
Key Takeaway
Embrace imagination over oppressive rationality.
Themes
oppression
imagination
hope
reason
freedom
Mood
conflicted
hopeful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal struggle
- creative work
- mental health
- overcoming adversity
Key Concepts
Existentialism
psychology
literary analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance rational duty with creative yearning?
- When does reason become a barrier to hope?
A Different Perspective
Reason can provide necessary structure, but may also limit emotional growth.
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