Love Quote by Virginia Woolf
““For Love, to which we may now return, has two faces; one white, the other black; two bodies; one smooth, the other hairy. It has two hands, two feet, two tails, two, indeed, of every member and each one is the exact opposite of the other. Yet, so strictly are they joined together that you cannot separate them. In this case, Orlando’s love began her flight towards him with her white face turned, and her smooth and lovely body outwards. Nearer and nearer she came wafting before her airs of pure delight. All of a sudden (at the sight of the Archduchess presumably) she wheeled about, turned the other way round; showed herself black, hairy, brutish; and it was Lust the vulture, not Love, the Bird of Paradise that flopped, foully and disgustingly, upon his shoulders. Hence he ran; hence he fetched the footman.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Orlando: A Biography, Virginia Woolf, 1928
Love is dualistic, containing opposing qualities that are inseparable, leading to confusion between desire and genuine affection.
In simple terms: Love has opposing sides that are linked.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and reconcile love’s contradictions.
Themes
love
duality
identity
desire
Mood
thoughtful
melancholic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- relationship counseling
- personal introspection
- creative writing
- therapy sessions
Key Concepts
psychology
gender
romantic idealism
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the dual nature of love reveal about self?
- How can we distinguish love from lust?
A Different Perspective
May romanticize conflict, ignoring healthy boundaries.
