--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But the more Emma recognised her love…" description: "\"“But the more Emma recognised her love, the more she crushed it down, that it might not be evident, that she might make it less. What restrained her wa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/gustave-flaubert-354_love_but-the-more-emma-recognised-her-love-th_1304295.jpg" --- # But the more Emma recognised her love, the more she… ![“But the more Emma recognised her love, the more she crushed it down, that it might not be evident, that she might make it less. What restrained her was, no doubt, idleness and fear, and a sense of shame also. She thought she had repulsed him too much, that the time was past, that all was lost…” quote by Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/gustave-flaubert-354_love_but-the-more-emma-recognised-her-love-th_1304295.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/gustave-flaubert-354_love_but-the-more-emma-recognised-her-love-th_1304295.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/gustave-flaubert-354_love_but-the-more-emma-recognised-her-love-th_1304295.jpg) > ““But the more Emma recognised her love, the more she crushed it down, that it might not be evident, that she might make it less. What restrained her was, no doubt, idleness and fear, and a sense of shame also. She thought she had repulsed him too much, that the time was past, that all was lost. Then pride, the joy of being able to say to herself 'I am virtuous', and to look at herself in the glass taking resigned poses, consoled her a little for the sacrifice she believed she was making.”” [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Emma suppresses her love due to fear, shame, and pride, convincing herself she is virtuous while sacrificing genuine feeling. **In simple terms:** She hides love to appear virtuous, feeling shame and pride. Key Takeaway Recognize and accept true emotions rather than self‑deception. Themes love shame pride self‑deception fear Mood conflicted reflective Type literary psychological When to use this quote - romantic relationships - self‑reflection - personal growth - mental health - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology identity social expectation Questions to Reflect On - What emotions are you denying to protect your self‑image? - How does pride prevent you from feeling vulnerable? A Different Perspective Self‑deception can lead to deeper unhappiness and loss of authentic connection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“I am a loser. I have lost pride and ego. 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