--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A real flame of love is a subtle thing…" description: "\"A real flame of love is a subtle thing. It burns as a will-o'-the-wisp, dancing onward to fairy lands of delight. It roars as a furnace. Too often jeal..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ee/theodore-dreiser-8057_dancing_a-real-flame-of-love-is-a-subtle-thing-i_9264.jpg" --- # A real flame of love is a subtle thing. It burns as a… ![“A real flame of love is a subtle thing. It burns as a will-o'-the-wisp, dancing onward to fairy lands of delight. It roars as a furnace. Too often jealousy is the quality upon which it feeds.” quote by Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ee/theodore-dreiser-8057_dancing_a-real-flame-of-love-is-a-subtle-thing-i_9264.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ee/theodore-dreiser-8057_dancing_a-real-flame-of-love-is-a-subtle-thing-i_9264.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ee/theodore-dreiser-8057_dancing_a-real-flame-of-love-is-a-subtle-thing-i_9264.jpg) > “A real flame of love is a subtle thing. It burns as a will-o'-the-wisp, dancing onward to fairy lands of delight. It roars as a furnace. Too often jealousy is the quality upon which it feeds.” [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Love is a paradoxical force that can be both delicate and intense, sustaining itself through both tenderness and jealousy. **In simple terms:** Love is both gentle and fierce. Key Takeaway Love thrives on balance, not jealousy. Themes paradox intensity vulnerability passion balance Mood tender intense reflective Type aphorical philosophical poetic When to use this quote - romantic relationships - friendships - self‑love journeys - artistic inspiration Key Concepts emotional duality psychology of attachment metaphor of fire Practical Applications - creative writing - relationship counseling Questions to Reflect On - How does jealousy shape your experience of love? - What practices nurture the gentle flame? A Different Perspective Jealousy can also motivate protective care, not merely corrupt love. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dancing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancing/) [Delight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) [Fairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairy/) [Flame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flame/) [Jealousy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jealousy/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) ## Related quotes > [Love is a lot like fire. It can make you warm, or destroy all you have, and once the flame of love ignites, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-a-lot-like-fire-it-can-make-you-warm-or-destroy-all-you-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The flame of our love will never die, for it burns through the stars for eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemis-khan/the-flame-of-our-love-will-never-die-for-it-burns-through-the-stars/) [Kemis Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemis-khan/) > [Even when a river of tears courses through this body, the flame of love cannot be quenched.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izumi-shikibu/even-when-a-river-of-tears-courses-through-this-body-the-flame-of/) [Izumi Shikibu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izumi-shikibu/) > [“Carry the flame of love and light to everyone you meet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/carry-the-flame-of-love-and-light-to-everyone-you-meet/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [A flame may love a snowflake, but they can never be together without each harming the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/a-flame-may-love-a-snowflake-but-they-can-never-be-together-without/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) > [For you I was a flame, love is a losing game. 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There lives within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/love-is-begun-by-time-and-that-i-see-in-passages-of-proof-time/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Hearts are like tapers, which at beauteous eyes Kindle a flame of love that never dies; And beauty is a flame, where hearts, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/hearts-are-like-tapers-which-at-beauteous-eyes-kindle-a-flame-of-love/) [Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) > [Where there is love, do what you will, it will be right action. It will never bring conflict to one's life. In the flame…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/where-there-is-love-do-what-you-will-it-will-be-right-action-it-will/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [“I know love is begun by time, And that I see, in passages of proof, Time qualifies the spark and fire of it. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-know-love-is-begun-by-time-and-that-i-see-in-passages-of-proof-time/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Your eyes is a flame of fire, your love is what I admire, your my heart the only one that I desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/savannah-bledsoe/your-eyes-is-a-flame-of-fire-your-love-is-what-i-admire-your-my-heart/) Savannah Bledsoe > [“Let us chide our cold unfeeling hearts and pray for a coal of fire from the heavenly altar to send us home in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/let-us-chide-our-cold-unfeeling-hearts-and-pray-for-a-coal-of-fire/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) ## More by Theodore Dreiser > [“Cowperwood was shocked by the nudity of the Venus which conveyed an atmosphere of European freedom not common to America;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/cowperwood-was-shocked-by-the-nudity-of-the-venus-which-conveyed-an/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [“...the past was so painful at any point. It seared and burned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/the-past-was-so-painful-at-any-point-it-seared-and-burned/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [“His eyes expressed the difficulty he felt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/his-eyes-expressed-the-difficulty-he-felt/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [“Who were these people with money, and what had they done that they should enjoy so much luxury, where others as good seemingly as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/who-were-these-people-with-money-and-what-had-they-done-that-they/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [To the untraveled, territory other than their own familiar heath is invariably fascinating. 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Neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/here-were-these-two-bandying-little-phrases-drawing-purses-looking-at/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [Assure a man that he has a soul and then frighten him with old wives' tales as to what is to become of him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/assure-a-man-that-he-has-a-soul-and-then-frighten-him-with-old-wives/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [If we are to extract any joy out of our span, we must think and plan and make things better not only for ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/if-we-are-to-extract-any-joy-out-of-our-span-we-must-think-and-plan/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [“In your rocking-chair, by your window dreaming, shall you long, alone. In your rocking- chair, by your window, shall you dream such happiness as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/in-your-rocking-chair-by-your-window-dreaming-shall-you-long-alone-in/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [“Carrie felt this as a personal reproof. She read "Dora Thorne," or had a great deal in the past. It seemed only fair to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/carrie-felt-this-as-a-personal-reproof-she-read-dora-thorne-or-had-a/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [You walk into a room, see a woman, and something happens. It's chemical. What are you going to do about it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/you-walk-into-a-room-see-a-woman-and-something-happens-it-s-chemical/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [Theodore Dreiser Should ought to write nicer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/theodore-dreiser-should-ought-to-write-nicer/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [“Caroline, or Sister Carrie, as she had been half affectionately termed by the family, was possessed of a mind rudimentary in its power of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/caroline-or-sister-carrie-as-she-had-been-half-affectionately-termed/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) [Explore all 82 Theodore Dreiser quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) ## More Dancing quotes > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [Everything in dancing is style, allusion, the essence of many thoughts and feelings. The abstraction of many moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-ailey/everything-in-dancing-is-style-allusion-the-essence-of-many-thoughts/) [Alvin Ailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-ailey/) > [I with borrow'd silver shine, What you see is none of mine. 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The dancing?” “The food.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/what-do-you-think-of-the-ball-her-companion-asked-it-is-lovely/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [Do you know what it is sir? Do you know what the Dance Dance Revolution is? It's not an actual revolution, so you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-peters/do-you-know-what-it-is-sir-do-you-know-what-the-dance-dance/) [Russell Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-peters/) > [“To all the secret writers, late-night painters, would-be singers, lapsed and scared artists of every stripe, dig out your paintbrush, or your flute, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/to-all-the-secret-writers-late-night-painters-would-be-singers-lapsed/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [There's no thinking involved in my choreography... I don't work through images or ideas. I work through the body... 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