--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Now he haunts me seldom: some fierce…" description: "\"“Now he haunts me seldom: some fierce umbilical is broken, I live with my own fragile hopes and sudden rising despair. Now I do not weep for my sins; I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2c/james-kavanaugh-28051_atheism_now-he-haunts-me-seldom-some-fierce-umbi_597642.png" --- # Now he haunts me seldom: some fierce umbilical is broken… ![“Now he haunts me seldom: some fierce umbilical is broken, I live with my own fragile hopes and sudden rising despair. Now I do not weep for my sins; I have learned to love them And to know that they are the wounds that make love real. His face illudes me; his voice, with its pity, does not ring in…” quote by James Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2c/james-kavanaugh-28051_atheism_now-he-haunts-me-seldom-some-fierce-umbi_597642.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2c/james-kavanaugh-28051_atheism_now-he-haunts-me-seldom-some-fierce-umbi_597642.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2c/james-kavanaugh-28051_atheism_now-he-haunts-me-seldom-some-fierce-umbi_597642.png) > ““Now he haunts me seldom: some fierce umbilical is broken, I live with my own fragile hopes and sudden rising despair. Now I do not weep for my sins; I have learned to love them And to know that they are the wounds that make love real. His face illudes me; his voice, with its pity, does not ring in my ear. His maxims memorized in boyhood do not make fruitless and pointless my experience. I walk alone, but not so terrified as when he held my hand. I do not splash in the blood of his son nor hear the crunch of nails or thorns piercing protesting flesh. I am a boy again--I whose boyhood was turned to manhood in a brutal myth. Now wine is only wine with drops that do not taste of blood. The bread I eat has too much pride for transubstantiation, I, too--and together the bread and I embrace, Each grateful to be what we are, each loving from our own reality.”” [James Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-kavanaugh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects on broken bonds, personal wounds, and the painful yet authentic nature of love, finding solace in solitary growth. **In simple terms:** Love is painful but makes us real. Key Takeaway Accept wounds as part of love’s truth. Themes love pain growth solitude spirituality Mood melancholic introspective Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - recovering from a breakup - grieving a loss - personal healing - spiritual crisis Key Concepts existentialism psychology redemption Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile love’s pain with its joy? - What wounds have shaped your capacity to love? A Different Perspective The intensity of pain may deter some from seeking love. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Boyhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boyhood/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Manhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manhood/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Too much pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-much-pride/) [Walk Alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walk-alone/) ## Related quotes > [“To love is not to possess, To own or imprison, Nor to lose one's self in another. Love is to join and separate, To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-kavanaugh/to-love-is-not-to-possess-to-own-or-imprison-nor-to-lose-one-s-self/) [James Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-kavanaugh/) > [... it is seldom a medical man has true religious views--there is too much pride of intellect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/it-is-seldom-a-medical-man-has-true-religious-views-there-is-too-much/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [I dislike when someone owes you an apology, but they feel like they don't owe you one or they have too much pride to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/i-dislike-when-someone-owes-you-an-apology-but-they-feel-like-they/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [“People don’t change their minds that easily. They have too much pride. Eventually they have kids who see the world differently, and that’s how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-kultgen/people-don-t-change-their-minds-that-easily-they-have-too-much-pride/) [Chad Kultgen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-kultgen/) > ['Being green' is commendable, but I hope that people don't take too much pride and self-adoration because they shut off the water when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/being-green-is-commendable-but-i-hope-that-people-don-t-take-too-much/) [Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/) > [Having too much pride in a relationship can lead to disaster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/having-too-much-pride-in-a-relationship-can-lead-to-disaster/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Always been told that I've got too much pride. Too independant to have you by my side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn/always-been-told-that-i-ve-got-too-much-pride-too-independant-to-have/) [Robyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn/) > [“Pride leads him to believe he is smarter than others and invincible, thus he’ll make mistakes in his arrogance.  Just remember, there is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-todd-cochrane/pride-leads-him-to-believe-he-is-smarter-than-others-and-invincible/) [James Todd Cochrane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-todd-cochrane/) > [If I fail it is only because I have too much pride and ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-caesar/if-i-fail-it-is-only-because-i-have-too-much-pride-and-ambition/) [Julius Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-caesar/) > [Too much pride is just stupid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/too-much-pride-is-just-stupid/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Having too much pride can actually hold you back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/having-too-much-pride-can-actually-hold-you-back/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Be humble, don't have too much pride and think you're too good for anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-yee/be-humble-don-t-have-too-much-pride-and-think-you-re-too-good-for/) [Angela Yee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-yee/) > [Maybe it's because I have too much pride or self-respect, but I thought, 'Why does a guy who has thinning hair and who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-giamatti/maybe-it-s-because-i-have-too-much-pride-or-self-respect-but-i/) [Paul Giamatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-giamatti/) > [I'm way too competitive and have way too much pride to leave something bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mack-brown/i-m-way-too-competitive-and-have-way-too-much-pride-to-leave/) [Mack Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mack-brown/) > [Navigating through her eyes, destination to her thighs and I hate to tell you too much, cuz I stay with too much pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wale/navigating-through-her-eyes-destination-to-her-thighs-and-i-hate-to/) [Wale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wale/) ## More by James Kavanaugh > [We searchers are ambitious only for life itself, for everything beautiful it can provide. Most of all we love and want to be loved.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-kavanaugh/we-searchers-are-ambitious-only-for-life-itself-for-everything/) [James Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-kavanaugh/) > [I was born to find goblins in their caves / And chase moonlight / To see shadows and seek hidden rivers / To hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-kavanaugh/i-was-born-to-find-goblins-in-their-caves-and-chase-moonlight-to-see/) [James Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-kavanaugh/) > [“Little world, full of scars and gashes, ripened with another's pain, Your flowers feed on carrion--so do your birds; Men feed on each other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-kavanaugh/little-world-full-of-scars-and-gashes-ripened-with-another-s-pain/) [James Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-kavanaugh/) > [There are men too gentle to live among wolves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-kavanaugh/there-are-men-too-gentle-to-live-among-wolves/) [James Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-kavanaugh/) > [“To love is not to possess, To own or imprison, Nor to lose one's self in another. Love is to join and separate, To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-kavanaugh/to-love-is-not-to-possess-to-own-or-imprison-nor-to-lose-one-s-self/) [James Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-kavanaugh/) > [“Where are you hiding my love? Each day without you will never come again. Even today you missed a sunset on the ocean, A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-kavanaugh/where-are-you-hiding-my-love-each-day-without-you-will-never-come/) [James Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-kavanaugh/) > [Don't you know That lovers make the rains, Call forth the sun, Re-route hurricanes, And exorcise earthquakes for fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-kavanaugh/don-t-you-know-that-lovers-make-the-rains-call-forth-the-sun-re-route/) [James Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-kavanaugh/) > [“Come to the beach with me And watch the pelicans die, Hear their feeble screams Calling to an empty sky Where once they played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-kavanaugh/come-to-the-beach-with-me-and-watch-the-pelicans-die-hear-their/) [James Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-kavanaugh/) > [It's a treat to beat your feet on the Mississippi mud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-kavanaugh/it-s-a-treat-to-beat-your-feet-on-the-mississippi-mud/) [James Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-kavanaugh/) > [We searchers are ambitious only for life itself, for everything beautiful it can provide...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-kavanaugh/we-searchers-are-ambitious-only-for-life-itself-for-everything-2/) [James Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-kavanaugh/) > [Little world, full of little people shouting for recognition, screaming for love, Rolling world, teeming with millions, carousel of the hungry, Is there food…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-kavanaugh/little-world-full-of-little-people-shouting-for-recognition-screaming/) [James Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-kavanaugh/) > [“I played God today And it was fun! I made animals that men had never seen So they would stop and scratch their heads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-kavanaugh/i-played-god-today-and-it-was-fun-i-made-animals-that-men-had-never/) [James Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-kavanaugh/) > [“I saw my face today And it looked older, Without the warmth of wisdom Or the softness Born of pain and waiting. The dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-kavanaugh/i-saw-my-face-today-and-it-looked-older-without-the-warmth-of-wisdom/) [James Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-kavanaugh/) > [I am one of the searchers. There are millions of us. We are not unhappy, but neither are we really content. We continue to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-kavanaugh/i-am-one-of-the-searchers-there-are-millions-of-us-we-are-not-unhappy/) [James Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-kavanaugh/) > [“I am one of the searchers. There are, I believe, millions of us. We are not unhappy, but neither are we really content. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-kavanaugh/i-am-one-of-the-searchers-there-are-i-believe-millions-of-us-we-are/) [James Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-kavanaugh/) [Explore all 20 James Kavanaugh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-kavanaugh/) ## More Atheism quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [No philosophy, no religion, has ever brought so glad a message to the world as this good news of Atheism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/no-philosophy-no-religion-has-ever-brought-so-glad-a-message-to-the/) [Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [You cannot ... transmute some incoherent mixture of words into sense merely by introducing the three-letter word "God" to be its grammatical subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-flew/you-cannot-transmute-some-incoherent-mixture-of-words-into-sense/) [Antony Flew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-flew/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Do you think that was kind? 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I walk alone, but not so terrified as when he held my hand. I do not splash in the blood of his son nor hear the crunch of nails or thorns piercing protesting flesh. I am a boy again--I whose boyhood was turned to manhood in a brutal myth. Now wine is only wine with drops that do not taste of blood. 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