--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Love contending with friendship, and self…" description: "\"Love contending with friendship, and self with each generous impulse. To and fro in his breast his thoughts were heaving and dashing, As in a founderin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22a/henry-wadsworth-longfellow-284_breasts_love-contending-with-friendship-and-self_3235920.jpg" --- # Love contending with friendship, and self with each… ![“Love contending with friendship, and self with each generous impulse. To and fro in his breast his thoughts were heaving and dashing, As in a foundering ship.” quote by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22a/henry-wadsworth-longfellow-284_breasts_love-contending-with-friendship-and-self_3235920.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22a/henry-wadsworth-longfellow-284_breasts_love-contending-with-friendship-and-self_3235920.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22a/henry-wadsworth-longfellow-284_breasts_love-contending-with-friendship-and-self_3235920.jpg) > “Love contending with friendship, and self with each generous impulse. To and fro in his breast his thoughts were heaving and dashing, As in a foundering ship.” [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Inner conflict between loyalty to friends and personal impulses, likened to a stormy sea. **In simple terms:** Friendship vs self desire. Key Takeaway Balance duty and desire. Themes friendship self conflict Mood reflective melancholic Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - personal decisions - relationship dilemmas - emotional storms Key Concepts romanticism inner turmoil human nature Questions to Reflect On - What impulses guide you? - How do you reconcile them with friendships? 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But because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/in-old-age-our-bodies-are-worn-out-instruments-on-which-the-soul/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [“ Endymion The rising moon has hid the stars; Her level rays, like golden bars, Lie on the landscape green, With shadows brown between.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/endymion-the-rising-moon-has-hid-the-stars-her-level-rays-like-golden/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [There's nothing fair nor beautiful, but takes Something from thee, that makes it beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/there-s-nothing-fair-nor-beautiful-but-takes-something-from-thee-that/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [Fame comes only when deserved, and then is as inevitable as destiny, for it is destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/fame-comes-only-when-deserved-and-then-is-as-inevitable-as-destiny/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [Nature paints not; In oils, but frescoes the great dome of heaven; With sunsets, and the lovely forms of clouds; And flying vapors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/nature-paints-not-in-oils-but-frescoes-the-great-dome-of-heaven-with/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [“  Thus dwelt together in love these simple Acadian farmers,—   Dwelt in the love of God and of man. 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