Age Quote by John Webster
“I myself have loved a lady and pursued her with a great deal of under-age protestation, whom some three or four gallants that have enjoyed would with all their hearts have been glad to have been rid of. 'Tis just like a summer birdcage in a garden: the birds that are without despair to get in, and the birds that are within despair and are in a consumption for fear they shall never get out.”
About This Quote
Source Play: The Duchess of Malfi by John Webster, 1612
A lover’s obsessive pursuit is likened to a trapped bird, illustrating how desire can become a self‑imposed prison.
In simple terms: Obsessive love feels like a cage.
Key Takeaway
Recognize when desire turns into confinement.
Themes
love
obsession
freedom
despair
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- romantic relationships
- personal boundaries
- emotional health
- self‑reflection
Key Concepts
psychology
control
self‑sabotage
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you feel trapped by your own desires?
- How can you balance longing with autonomy?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may exaggerate; not all love is imprisoning.
