Ability to love Quote by Mary Oliver
““In the mystery and the energy of loving, we all view time's shadow upon the beloved as wretchedly as any of Poe's narrators. We do not think of it every day, but we never forget it: the beloved shall grow old, or ill, and be taken away finally. No matter how ferociously we fight, how tenderly we love, how bitterly we argue, how pervasively we berate the universe, how cunningly we hide, this is what shall happen. In the wide circles of timelessness, everything material and temporal will fail, including the manifestation of the beloved. In this universe we are given two gifts: the ability to love, and the ability to ask questions. Which are, at the same time, the fires that warm us and the fires that scorch us. This is Poe's real story. As it is ours. And this is why we honor him, why we are fascinated far past the simple narratives. He writes about our own inescapable destiny.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The Poetry of the World” by Mary Oliver, 2005
The quote reflects on love’s inevitable pain and mortality, likening it to Poe’s tragic narratives, and suggests love and questioning are both comforting and painful gifts.
In simple terms: Love brings joy and sorrow; questions both warm and burn.
Key Takeaway
Embrace love, accept its fleeting nature.
Themes
love
mortality
existence
art
questioning
Mood
melancholy
reflective
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- grieving a loss
- reflecting on relationships
- artistic creation
- philosophical contemplation
Key Concepts
impermanence
dualism
human condition
Questions to Reflect On
- How does love shape your view of mortality?
- What role do questions play in coping with loss?
A Different Perspective
Love cannot prevent loss; questioning may deepen sorrow.
