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Life Quote by W.H. Auden

“When I try to imagine a faultless love Or the life to come, what I hear is the murmur Of underground streams, what I see is a limestone landscape.” quote by W.H. Auden
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““When I try to imagine a faultless love Or the life to come, what I hear is the murmur Of underground streams, what I see is a limestone landscape.””

W.H. Auden

About This Quote

Source Poem: “The Unknown Citizen” collection, 1939

The speaker imagines perfect love and afterlife as distant, hidden forces, like underground streams and limestone, suggesting mystery and depth beyond human grasp.

In simple terms: Perfect love and afterlife feel mysterious and hidden.

Key Takeaway

Embrace uncertainty and seek depth.

Themes

love afterlife mystery nature perception

Mood

reflective melancholic

Type

poetic philosophical

When to use this quote

  • spiritual contemplation
  • creative writing
  • philosophical discussion

Key Concepts

existentialism metaphor poetry

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you confront the unknown in love?
  • What does the underground symbolize for you?
A Different Perspective

The image may romanticize mystery, overlooking concrete emotional work needed.

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