Love Quote by W. Somerset Maugham
““If I have succeeded at all in giving the complicated impression that Strickland made on me, it will not seem outrageous to say that I felt he was at once too great and too small for love.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: "Of Human Bondage", 1915
The narrator sees Strickland as both overwhelming and inadequate for love, revealing complex admiration.
In simple terms: Love can feel both grand and insufficient.
Key Takeaway
Recognize paradoxes in relationships.
Themes
love
admiration
complexity
paradox
Mood
conflicted
introspective
Type
literary
psychological
When to use this quote
- relationship counseling
- self‑reflection
- literary analysis
Key Concepts
psychology of attachment
human frailty
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we idealize and diminish the same person?
- Can we accept love without contradictory feelings?
A Different Perspective
Such duality may stem from personal insecurities rather than the other’s nature.
