Anguish Quote by D.H. Lawrence
““She could just distinguish his features, as he slept the perfect sleep. In this darkness, she seemed to see him so distinctly. But he was far off, in another world. Ah, she could shriek with torment, he was so far off, and perfected, in another world. She seemed to look at him as at a pebble far away under clear dark water. And here was she, left with all the anguish of consciousness, whilst he was sunk deep into the other element of mindless, remote, living shadow-gleam. He was beautiful, far-off, and perfected. They would never be together. Ah, this awful, inhuman distance which would always be interposed between her and the other being! There was nothing to do but to lie still and endure. She felt an overwhelming tenderness for him, and a dark, under-stirring of jealous hatred, that he should lie so perfect and immune, in an other-world, whilst she was tormented with violent wakefulness, cast out in the outer darkness.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Women in Love by D.H. Lawrence, 1920
A lover feels an impossible, distant yearning for a perfect but unattainable beloved, leading to anguish and mixed tenderness and jealousy.
In simple terms: Unreachable love causes pain and jealousy.
Key Takeaway
Accept longing but seek realistic connections.
Themes
love
longing
unattainable desire
Mood
melancholic
intense
Type
literary
psychological
When to use this quote
- unrequited love
- artistic inspiration
- personal reflection
- grief counseling
Key Concepts
idealization
psychological distance
jealousy
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the “other element of mindless” represent?
- Can longing be transformed into compassion?
A Different Perspective
Idealizing others can prevent healthy relationships.
