Every man Quote by Jerome K. Jerome
““And who would not risk its terrors to gain its raptures? Ah, what raptures they were! The mere recollection thrills you. How delicious it was to tell her that you loved her, that you lived for her, that you would die for her! How you did rave, to be sure, what floods of extravagant nonsense you poured forth, and oh, how cruel it was of her to pretend not to believe you! '''In what awe you stood of her! How miserable you were when you had offended her! And yet, how pleasant to be bullied by her and to sue for pardon without having the slightest notion of what your fault was! How dark the world was when she snubbed you, as she often did, the little rogue, just to see you look wretched; how sunny when she smiled! How jealous you were of every one about her! How you hated every man she shook hands with, every woman she kissed—the maid that did her hair, the boy that cleaned her shoes, the dog she nursed—though you had to be respectful to the last-named! How you looked forward to seeing her, how stupid you were when you did see her, staring at her without saying a word! How impossible it was for you to go out at any time of the day or night without finding yourself eventually opposite her windows!””
About This Quote
Source Book: Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome, 1889
The speaker obsessively idolizes a lover, experiencing extreme emotional swings from adulation to despair, driven by desire for validation.
In simple terms: Obsessive love causes intense highs and lows.
Recognize and balance emotional dependence.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- unrequited love
- courtship
- social interactions
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you chase validation from others?
- How can you cultivate self‑worth independent of romance?
Love can become self‑destructive if not tempered with self‑respect.