--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He said to himself, that he hated…" description: "\"“He said to himself, that he hated Margaret, but a wild, sharp sensation of love cleft his dull, thunderous feeling like lightning, even as he shaped t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba1/elizabeth-gaskell-894_love_he-said-to-himself-that-he-hated-margare_1039883.jpg" --- # He said to himself, that he hated Margaret, but a wild… ![“He said to himself, that he hated Margaret, but a wild, sharp sensation of love cleft his dull, thunderous feeling like lightning, even as he shaped the words expressive of hatred. His greatest comfort was in hugging his torment; and in feeling, as he had indeed said to her, that though she might…” quote by Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba1/elizabeth-gaskell-894_love_he-said-to-himself-that-he-hated-margare_1039883.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba1/elizabeth-gaskell-894_love_he-said-to-himself-that-he-hated-margare_1039883.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba1/elizabeth-gaskell-894_love_he-said-to-himself-that-he-hated-margare_1039883.jpg) > ““He said to himself, that he hated Margaret, but a wild, sharp sensation of love cleft his dull, thunderous feeling like lightning, even as he shaped the words expressive of hatred. His greatest comfort was in hugging his torment; and in feeling, as he had indeed said to her, that though she might despise him, contemn him, treat him with her proud sovereign indifference, he did not change one whit. She could not make him change. He loved her, and would love her; and defy her, and this miserable bodily pain.”” [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) ## 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 wrestles with contradictory feelings of hatred and love, finding comfort in the pain of unrequited affection. **In simple terms:** Love and hate can coexist, causing inner turmoil. Key Takeaway Accept the pain, but seek healthier emotional balance. Themes love hatred unrequited love inner conflict Mood melancholic intense conflicted Type literary emotional psychological When to use this quote - relationship heartbreak - self‑reflection - creative writing - therapy sessions Key Concepts psychology emotional duality passion Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile conflicting emotions toward someone? - What coping strategies can replace self‑inflicted suffering? A Different Perspective The intensity of feeling may cloud judgment and lead to self‑destructive behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hatred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatred/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [For all his pain, he longed to see the author of it. Although he hated Margaret at times, when he thought of that gentle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/for-all-his-pain-he-longed-to-see-the-author-of-it-although-he-hated/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [I hated what Margaret Thatcher had done. How she'd taken jobs. I hated her divide and rule politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-kendall/i-hated-what-margaret-thatcher-had-done-how-she-d-taken-jobs-i-hated/) [Liz Kendall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-kendall/) > [If you got more than one letter from somebody who said they hated you, it meant they kept watching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-moore/if-you-got-more-than-one-letter-from-somebody-who-said-they-hated-you/) [Trevor Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-moore/) > [“She said she hated my children—her own children, Looloo-dirl, her own children!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-stead/she-said-she-hated-my-children-her-own-children-looloo-dirl-her-own/) [Christina Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-stead/) > [“I hated when Rafael said he hated himself. Sometimes he would say something like that. I just didn’t like hearing that. Why would he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-alire-s-enz/i-hated-when-rafael-said-he-hated-himself-sometimes-he-would-say/) [Benjamin Alire Sáenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-alire-s-enz/) > [“I said I hated life. You said you hated life. We decided to hate it together. We didn’t know anything. Without you I wouldn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-said-i-hated-life-you-said-you-hated-life-we-decided-to-hate-it-2/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“I never said I hated the Marine Corps! I only said it was no place for a sensitive, civilized, self-respecting human being.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-styron/i-never-said-i-hated-the-marine-corps-i-only-said-it-was-no-place-for/) [William Styron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-styron/) > [“For society indeed of all sorts, except of course that of a few intimate friends, he had an unconquerable aversion. "I always did hate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/for-society-indeed-of-all-sorts-except-of-course-that-of-a-few/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [I never said I hated my life, but I did say I loved you as you turned your back on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naquitta-faith/i-never-said-i-hated-my-life-but-i-did-say-i-loved-you-as-you-turned/) [Naquitta Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naquitta-faith/) > [“I said I hated life. You said you hated life. We decided to hate it together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-said-i-hated-life-you-said-you-hated-life-we-decided-to-hate-it/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [Whenever a hater said they hated something about Miranda, I'd do it more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-ballinger/whenever-a-hater-said-they-hated-something-about-miranda-i-d-do-it/) [Colleen Ballinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-ballinger/) > [What do you do when you Find yourself crying because the guy you turly thought you hated said they hated you to?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krisee-ellis/what-do-you-do-when-you-find-yourself-crying-because-the-guy-you/) [Krisee Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krisee-ellis/) > [People have said that I said I hate television. I never did say that. What I said was that I hated a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chase/people-have-said-that-i-said-i-hate-television-i-never-did-say-that/) [David Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chase/) > [Some of the things that I said I hated to say, but blame yourself mother fucker you made it this way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jedi-mind-tricks/some-of-the-things-that-i-said-i-hated-to-say-but-blame-yourself/) [Jedi Mind Tricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jedi-mind-tricks/) > [I never said I hated you. I said if you were on fire I might consider roasting marshmallows. BIG DIFFERENCE!..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-never-said-i-hated-you-i-said-if-you-were-on-fire-i-might-consider/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Elizabeth Gaskell > [“Osborne and Roger knowing that the wife of the former was a Frenchwoman, and, conscious of each other's knowledge, felt doubly awkward; while Molly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/osborne-and-roger-knowing-that-the-wife-of-the-former-was-a/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [Well, He had known what love was-a sharp pang, a fierce experience, in the midst of whose flames he was struggling! but, through that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/well-he-had-known-what-love-was-a-sharp-pang-a-fierce-experience-in/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [In all disappointments sympathy is a great balm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/in-all-disappointments-sympathy-is-a-great-balm/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [But Margaret went less abroad, among machinery and men; saw less of power in its public effect, and, as it happened, she was thrown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/but-margaret-went-less-abroad-among-machinery-and-men-saw-less-of/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [“And besides, in the matter of friendship, I have observed that the disappointment here arises chiefly, not from liking our friends too well, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/and-besides-in-the-matter-of-friendship-i-have-observed-that-the/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [What other people may think of the rightness or wrongness is nothing in comparison to my own deep knowledge, my innate conviction that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/what-other-people-may-think-of-the-rightness-or-wrongness-is-nothing/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [“The first question sobbed out by his choking voice, oppressed with emotion, was-- "Where is she?" They led him to the room where his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/the-first-question-sobbed-out-by-his-choking-voice-oppressed-with/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [Wearily she went to bed, wearily she arose in four or five hours' time. But with the morning came hope, and a brighter view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/wearily-she-went-to-bed-wearily-she-arose-in-four-or-five-hours-time/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [No one loves me, - no one cares for me, but you, mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/no-one-loves-me-no-one-cares-for-me-but-you-mother/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [I won't say she was silly, but I think one of us was silly, and it wasn't me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/i-won-t-say-she-was-silly-but-i-think-one-of-us-was-silly-and-it-wasn/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [Mr. Thorton love Margaret! Why, Margraret would never think of him, I'm sure! Such a thing has never entered her head." "Entering her heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/mr-thorton-love-margaret-why-margraret-would-never-think-of-him-i-m/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [“He never looked at her; and yet, the careful avoidance of his eyes betokened that in some way he knew exactly where, if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/he-never-looked-at-her-and-yet-the-careful-avoidance-of-his-eyes/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [“Ay! but mother's words are scarce, and weigh heavy. Father's liker me, and we talk a deal o' rubble; but mother's words are liker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/ay-but-mother-s-words-are-scarce-and-weigh-heavy-father-s-liker-me/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [Margaret liked this smile; it was the first thing she had admired in this new friend of her father's; and the opposition of character,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/margaret-liked-this-smile-it-was-the-first-thing-she-had-admired-in/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [Don’t be afraid,” she said, coldly, “ as far as love may go she may be worthy of you. It must have taken a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/don-t-be-afraid-she-said-coldly-as-far-as-love-may-go-she-may-be/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) [Explore all 330 Elizabeth Gaskell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) ## More Hatred quotes > [There has certainly been ugly, right-wing hatred targeting Barack Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/there-has-certainly-been-ugly-right-wing-hatred-targeting-barack-obama/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [Only those who hate the Negro see hatred in the Negro.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-marti/only-those-who-hate-the-negro-see-hatred-in-the-negro/) [Jose Marti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-marti/) > [We witness anti-Semitic attacks in the heart of Europe. We hear anti-Semitic slanders in European media. We feel anti-Semitic hatred in the continent that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayelet-shaked/we-witness-anti-semitic-attacks-in-the-heart-of-europe-we-hear-anti/) [Ayelet Shaked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayelet-shaked/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [If the mind is dominated by hatred, the best part of the brain, which is used to judge right and wrong, does not function…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/if-the-mind-is-dominated-by-hatred-the-best-part-of-the-brain-which/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Our attitude towards evil must be freed from hatred, and has itself need to be enlightened in character...Satan rejoices when he succeeds in inspiring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolai-berdyaev/our-attitude-towards-evil-must-be-freed-from-hatred-and-has-itself/) [Nikolai Berdyaev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolai-berdyaev/) > [The hatred of those who are near to us is the most violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publius-cornelius-tacitus/the-hatred-of-those-who-are-near-to-us-is-the-most-violent/) [Publius Cornelius Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publius-cornelius-tacitus/) > [“Their Love Is Average, Seeks Average But There Is Genius In Their Hatred”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/their-love-is-average-seeks-average-but-there-is-genius-in-their/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [Enough for this bow & arrow. It caused me nothing but sorrow. No need for another tomorrow. In your heart, I will never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louaiq8/enough-for-this-bow-arrow-it-caused-me-nothing-but-sorrow-no-need-for/) Louaiq8 > [Too many years of feeling degraded now hatred's the only feeling that comes~~~](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/too-many-years-of-feeling-degraded-now-hatred-s-the-only-feeling-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Benefits received are a delight to us as long as we think we can requite them; when that possibility is far exceeded, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/benefits-received-are-a-delight-to-us-as-long-as-we-think-we-can/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [“It’s a continual revelation when you come to understand that the only thing you can expect in return for your own dignity is hatred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mosley/it-s-a-continual-revelation-when-you-come-to-understand-that-the-only/) [Walter Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mosley/) > [Hate is a lack of imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/hate-is-a-lack-of-imagination/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [Everybody loves to talk about calmness and peace, whether in a family, national, or international context, but without inner peace how can we make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/everybody-loves-to-talk-about-calmness-and-peace-whether-in-a-family/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [The terrorists-those nineteen people, with hundreds or maybe thousands behind them-did the worst thing you can possibly imagine. But tens of millions people did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/the-terrorists-those-nineteen-people-with-hundreds-or-maybe-thousands/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) [Browse all 3,825 Hatred quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatred/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He said to himself, that he hated Margaret, but a wild, sharp sensation of love cleft his dull, thunderous feeling like lightning, even as he shaped the words expressive of hatred. His greatest comfort was in hugging his torment; and in feeling, as he had indeed said to her, that though she might despise him, contemn him, treat him with her proud sovereign indifference, he did not change one whit. She could not make him change. 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