Communication Quote by Ford Madox Ford
““That was what a young woman was for. You seduced a young woman in order to be able to finish your talks with her. You could not do that without living with her. You could not live with her without seducing her; but that was the by-product. The point is that you can’t otherwise talk. You can’t finish talks at street corners; in museums; even in drawing-rooms. You mayn’t be in the mood when she is in the mood – for the intimate conversation that means the final communion of your souls. You have to wait together - for a week, for a year, for a lifetime, before the final intimate conversation may be attained … and exhausted … That in effect was love.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Good Soldier, Ford Madox Ford, 1915
Love is portrayed as a prolonged, strategic dance where intimacy is achieved only after a long, intentional courtship and mutual waiting.
In simple terms: Love requires patience and deliberate courtship.
Key Takeaway
Embrace patience in relationships.
Themes
love
courtship
patience
intimacy
communication
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- long‑term relationships
- artistic collaborations
- personal growth
- deliberate intimacy
Key Concepts
existentialism
romantic idealism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does patience shape genuine connection?
- Is waiting always beneficial?
A Different Perspective
The view may romanticize manipulation and overlook consent.
