So-romantic Quote by Jack Gilbert
““The water nymphs who came to Poseidon explained how little they desired to couple with the gods. Except to find out whether it was different, whether there was a fresh world, another dimension in their loins. In the old Pittsburgh, we dreamed of a city where women read Proust in the original French, and wondered whether we would cross over into a different joy if we paid a call girl a thousand dollars for a night. Or an hour. Would it be different in kind or only tricks and apparatus? I worried that a great love might make everything else an exile. It turned out that being together at twilight in the olive groves of Umbria did, indeed, measure everything after that.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Great Fire of London, 2015
The passage explores longing for novel experiences and the tension between desire for novelty and the fear that love may isolate other aspects of life.
In simple terms: Seeking new joys can feel both exciting and isolating.
Key Takeaway
Embrace love while staying curious.
Themes
desire
love
novelty
isolation
curiosity
Mood
reflective
melancholic
introspective
Type
literary
philosophical
romantic
When to use this quote
- relationships
- artistic pursuits
- travel
- intimate moments
Key Concepts
existentialism
romanticism
cultural critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What does novelty mean to you?
- Can love coexist with the pursuit of new sensations?
A Different Perspective
New experiences may not resolve deeper emotional conflicts.
