Bears Quote by Jean Genet
“When I beheld you, suddenly - for perhaps a second - I had the strength to reject everything that wasn't you and to laugh at the illusion. But my shoulders are very frail. I was unable to bear the weight of the world's condemnation. And I began to hate you when everything about you would have kindled my love and when love would have made men's contempt unbearable, and their contempt would have made my love unbearable. The fact is, I hate you.”
About This Quote
Source Play: The Maids, Jean Genet, 1947
The speaker feels overwhelmed by love, yet also burdened by societal judgment, leading to conflicted hatred.
In simple terms: Love feels both empowering and crushing under external scorn.
Key Takeaway
Recognize love's complexity and seek self‑compassion.
Themes
love
conflict
societal pressure
self‑worth
Mood
melancholic
introspective
poignant
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- romantic relationships
- artistic creation
- personal introspection
- mental health coping
- navigating criticism
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
identity
rejection
illusion
fragility
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the speaker truly fear?
- How can one love without self‑destruction?
A Different Perspective
The intensity of love may mask deeper insecurities, making hatred a protective response.
![“The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the formulas of nations at war, where any heinousness is justified on the grounds that the enemy is either an inferior [part of the] species or…” quote by Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/895/kate-millett-7301_accompany_the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imp_8896.jpg)
