--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why,' I said, quite surprised by my own…" description: "\"“Why,' I said, quite surprised by my own eloquence in inventing all this stuff, 'it happens every day. The old old story. Boys and girls fall in love, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/052/joyce-cary-11619_angels_why-i-said-quite-surprised-by-my-own-elo_2934702.jpg" --- # Why,' I said, quite surprised by my own eloquence in… ![“Why,' I said, quite surprised by my own eloquence in inventing all this stuff, 'it happens every day. The old old story. Boys and girls fall in love, that is, they are driven mad and go blind and deaf and see each other not as human animals with comic noses and bandy legs and voices like frogs…” quote by Joyce Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/052/joyce-cary-11619_angels_why-i-said-quite-surprised-by-my-own-elo_2934702.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/052/joyce-cary-11619_angels_why-i-said-quite-surprised-by-my-own-elo_2934702.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/052/joyce-cary-11619_angels_why-i-said-quite-surprised-by-my-own-elo_2934702.jpg) > ““Why,' I said, quite surprised by my own eloquence in inventing all this stuff, 'it happens every day. The old old story. Boys and girls fall in love, that is, they are driven mad and go blind and deaf and see each other not as human animals with comic noses and bandy legs and voices like frogs, but as angels so full of shining goodness that like hollow turnips with candles put into them, they seem miracles of beauty. And the next minute the candles shoot out sparks and burn their eyes. And they seem to each other like devils, full of spite and cruelty. And they will drive each other mad unless they have grown some imagination. Even enough to laugh.”” [Joyce Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-cary/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Love transforms ordinary people into idealized beings, but also reveals harsh realities, requiring imagination and humor. **In simple terms:** Love makes us see angels and devils. Key Takeaway Cultivate imagination to navigate love’s extremes. Themes love imagination duality Mood romantic reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - novels - personal reflection Key Concepts human nature relationships literature Questions to Reflect On - What fuels the shift from idealization to disillusion? - How does humor help in love’s challenges? A Different Perspective It may oversimplify complex emotions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Angels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angels/) [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) [Cruelty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cruelty/) [Devils](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devils/) [Fall in love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall-in-love/) [Girls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girls/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Inventing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inventing/) [Laughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughter/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Madness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madness/) [Spite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spite/) ## Related quotes > [“B-but, Mr Jimson, I w-want to be an artist.' 'Of course you do,' I said, 'everybody does once. But they get over it, thank…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-cary/b-but-mr-jimson-i-w-want-to-be-an-artist-of-course-you-do-i-said/) [Joyce Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-cary/) > [“You take a straight tip from the stable, Cokey, if you must hate, hate the government or the people or the sea or men,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-cary/you-take-a-straight-tip-from-the-stable-cokey-if-you-must-hate-hate/) [Joyce Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-cary/) > [“The Professor looked like a Protestant saint when the cannibal offered him the choice of taking six wives or being boiled alive. He wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-cary/the-professor-looked-like-a-protestant-saint-when-the-cannibal/) [Joyce Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-cary/) > [“They can't give you all that, Mr Jimson,' said Walter, who was upset. 'It wouldn't be right. What would they give you seven years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-cary/they-can-t-give-you-all-that-mr-jimson-said-walter-who-was-upset-it/) [Joyce Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-cary/) > [“Girl going past clinging to a young man's arm. Putting up her face like a duck to the moon. Drinking joy. Green in her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-cary/girl-going-past-clinging-to-a-young-man-s-arm-putting-up-her-face/) [Joyce Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-cary/) > [If men refuse to be kindled, sparks can only burn themselves out, just as paper images and carriages burn out on the street during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lu-xun/if-men-refuse-to-be-kindled-sparks-can-only-burn-themselves-out-just/) [Lu Xun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lu-xun/) > [“If you see devils, they lock you up, but in America, if you see angels, they put you on morning TV.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/if-you-see-devils-they-lock-you-up-but-in-america-if-you-see-angels/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [If my devils are to leave me, I'm afraid my angels will take flight as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/if-my-devils-are-to-leave-me-i-m-afraid-my-angels-will-take-flight-as/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [“When fighting devils, be careful not to become one”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raine-anthony/when-fighting-devils-be-careful-not-to-become-one/) Raine Anthony > [“Great Light, the Enemy's power is so fragile! The devils can use only what we ourselves will give them. Do you see? Give them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-lawhead/great-light-the-enemy-s-power-is-so-fragile-the-devils-can-use-only/) [Stephen R. Lawhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-lawhead/) > [“Tricky devils, these novelists. The ink gets into their heads.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/tricky-devils-these-novelists-the-ink-gets-into-their-heads/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [More details, more devils.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/more-details-more-devils/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's spiritual warfare out here gotta keep the devils up off ya and eyes on the prize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-spiritual-warfare-out-here-gotta-keep-the-devils-up-off-ya-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Unfathomable to mere mortals is the lore of fiends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/unfathomable-to-mere-mortals-is-the-lore-of-fiends/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [Wine is the first weapon that devils use in attacking the young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/wine-is-the-first-weapon-that-devils-use-in-attacking-the-young/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) ## More by Joyce Cary > [A perpetually new and lively world, but a dangerous one, full of tragedy and injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-cary/a-perpetually-new-and-lively-world-but-a-dangerous-one-full-of/) [Joyce Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-cary/) > [I look upon life as a gift from God. I did nothing to earn it. Now that the time is coming to give it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-cary/i-look-upon-life-as-a-gift-from-god-i-did-nothing-to-earn-it-now-that/) [Joyce Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-cary/) > [It is a tragedy of the world that no one knows what he doesn't know - the less a man knows, the more sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-cary/it-is-a-tragedy-of-the-world-that-no-one-knows-what-he-doesn-t-know/) [Joyce Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-cary/) > [“Girl going past clinging to a young man's arm. Putting up her face like a duck to the moon. Drinking joy. Green in her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-cary/girl-going-past-clinging-to-a-young-man-s-arm-putting-up-her-face/) [Joyce Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-cary/) > [It is the tragedy of the world that no one knows what he doesn't know - and the less a man knows, the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-cary/it-is-the-tragedy-of-the-world-that-no-one-knows-what-he-doesn-t-know/) [Joyce Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-cary/) > [“Nothing is a masterpiece - a real masterpiece - till it's about two hundred years old. A picture is like a tree or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-cary/nothing-is-a-masterpiece-a-real-masterpiece-till-it-s-about-two/) [Joyce Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-cary/) > [Politics is like navigation in a sea without charts, and wise men live the lives of pilgrims.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-cary/politics-is-like-navigation-in-a-sea-without-charts-and-wise-men-live/) [Joyce Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-cary/) > [It is sometimes said that toleration should be refused to the intolerant. In practice this would destroy it... The only remedy for dogmatism and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-cary/it-is-sometimes-said-that-toleration-should-be-refused-to-the/) [Joyce Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-cary/) > [The concept, the label, is perpetually hiding from us all the nature of the real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-cary/the-concept-the-label-is-perpetually-hiding-from-us-all-the-nature-of/) [Joyce Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-cary/) > [Old men when they begin to hear the last trumpet, on the morning breeze, often have a kind of absent-minded smile; like people listening.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-cary/old-men-when-they-begin-to-hear-the-last-trumpet-on-the-morning/) [Joyce Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-cary/) > [The principal fact of life is the free mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-cary/the-principal-fact-of-life-is-the-free-mind/) [Joyce Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-cary/) > [A foul-mouthed oaf, a drunken laborer lying in a drain, a beaten wife with blackened eyes and torn clothes, cannot be made romantic to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-cary/a-foul-mouthed-oaf-a-drunken-laborer-lying-in-a-drain-a-beaten-wife/) [Joyce Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-cary/) > [It was as dark as the inside of a cabinet minister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-cary/it-was-as-dark-as-the-inside-of-a-cabinet-minister/) [Joyce Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-cary/) > [To forgive is wisdom, to forget is genius. And easier. Because it's true. It's a new world every heart beat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-cary/to-forgive-is-wisdom-to-forget-is-genius-and-easier-because-it-s-true/) [Joyce Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-cary/) > [I write the big scenes first, that is, the scenes that carry the meaning of the book, the emotional experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-cary/i-write-the-big-scenes-first-that-is-the-scenes-that-carry-the/) [Joyce Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-cary/) [Explore all 59 Joyce Cary quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-cary/) ## More Angels quotes > [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [“ Around our pillows golden ladders rise, And up and down the skies, With winged sandals shod, The angels come, and go, the Messengers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/around-our-pillows-golden-ladders-rise-and-up-and-down-the-skies-with/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [It is no secret that I have read 'The Da Vinci Code' several times. I genuinely believe that 'The Da Vinci Code' and 'Angels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/it-is-no-secret-that-i-have-read-the-da-vinci-code-several-times-i/) [Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/) > [I'll always be a member of the Rays in my heart, absolutely. Just like with the Angels. It's no different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-maddon/i-ll-always-be-a-member-of-the-rays-in-my-heart-absolutely-just-like/) [Joe Maddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-maddon/) > [“Unfortunately for you love, I take my pleasure with a shot of pain”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-lake/unfortunately-for-you-love-i-take-my-pleasure-with-a-shot-of-pain/) [Keri Lake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-lake/) > [Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/flowers-are-the-alphabet-of-angels-whereby-they-write-on-the-hills/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Be careful who you might trust the Devil was once an angel too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-careful-who-you-might-trust-the-devil-was-once-an-angel-too/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Thank You for bringing me to a place and situation where even Angels in heaven have to move aside and give way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-jefferson/thank-you-for-bringing-me-to-a-place-and-situation-where-even-angels/) Mark Jefferson > [May god bless u](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoinette/may-god-bless-u/) [Antoinette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoinette/) > [The entire hierarchy of angels can best be described as an endlessly vast sphere of beings, who surround an unknowable centre-point, which is called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-godwin/the-entire-hierarchy-of-angels-can-best-be-described-as-an-endlessly/) [Malcolm Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-godwin/) > [“She lay there like a beautiful lace covered present for the troll with her sweet hands wrapped up in the red bow of Lilith’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-swann/she-lay-there-like-a-beautiful-lace-covered-present-for-the-troll/) [Bella Swann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-swann/) > [“Intellectualism is a poor master over passion”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twe-stephens/intellectualism-is-a-poor-master-over-passion/) Twe Stephens > [Those clouds are angels' robes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/those-clouds-are-angels-robes/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [“Well, the only reason we’re friends is because you can rock a tweed suit,” she informed, tone mock serious. “So if you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-kreitzer/well-the-only-reason-we-re-friends-is-because-you-can-rock-a-tweed/) [Laura Kreitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-kreitzer/) > [You men find so many angels in your travels. You have been honester than some. You have generally been off with the old angel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/you-men-find-so-many-angels-in-your-travels-you-have-been-honester/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) [Browse all 1,587 Angels quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angels/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Why,' I said, quite surprised by my own eloquence in inventing all this stuff, 'it happens every day. The old old story. Boys and girls fall in love, that is, they are driven mad and go blind and deaf and see each other not as human animals with comic noses and bandy legs and voices like frogs, but as angels so full of shining goodness that like hollow turnips with candles put into them, they seem miracles of beauty. And the next minute the candles shoot out sparks and burn their eyes. And they seem to each other like devils, full of spite and cruelty. 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