Desired Quote by Victor Hugo
““Unable to rid myself of it, since I heard your song humming ever in my head, beheld your feet dancing always on my breviary, felt even at night, in my dreams, your form in contact wih my own, I desired to see you again, to touch you, to know who you were, to see whether I should really find you like the ideal image which I had retained of you, to shatter my dream, perchance with reality. At all events, I hoped that a new impression would efface the first, and the first had become insupportable. I sought you. I saw you once more. Calamity! When I had seen you twice, I wanted to see you a thousand times, I wanted to see you always. Then - how stop myself on that slope of hell? - then I no longer belonged to myself.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Les Misérables, 1862
Obsessive longing for an idealized lover leads to self‑destruction and loss of self.
In simple terms: Intense desire can consume identity.
Key Takeaway
Seek balance between longing and self‑care.
Themes
love
obsession
identity
Mood
tragic
poetic
Type
literary
emotional
When to use this quote
- relationship counseling
- creative writing
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
romanticism
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “ideal” mean to you?
- How can desire be healthy?
A Different Perspective
Idealization may ignore reality, causing pain.
