Everybody must be managed. Queens must be managed. Kings must be managed, for men want managing almost as much as women, and that's saying a good deal.
Thomas HardyRead
A blaze of love and extinction, was better than a lantern glimmer of the same which should last long years.
Interpretation
Intense love, even if short-lived, is preferable to a faint and enduring love.
In this quote, Thomas Hardy expresses the idea that a passionate and consuming love, despite its impermanence, holds more value than a weak, flickering love that drags on for many years. The metaphor of a 'blaze' and a 'lantern' contrasts the vibrancy of genuine emotions against the dullness of prolonged mediocrity, suggesting that depth of feeling surpasses longevity in relationships.
In practice
During a wedding speech, one might use this quote to highlight the importance of passionate love.
Everybody must be managed. Queens must be managed. Kings must be managed, for men want managing almost as much as women, and that's saying a good deal.
Because what's the use of learning that I am one of a long row only - finding out that there is set down in some old book somebody just like me, and to know that I shall only act her part; making me sad, that's all. The best is not to remember your nature and your past doings have been just like thousands' and thousands', and that your coming life and doings'll be like thousands' and thousands'.
But nothing is more insidious than the evolution of wishes from mere fancies, and of wants from mere wishes.
I wish I had never been born--there or anywhere else.
Her affection for him was now the breath and life of Tess's being; it enveloped her as a photosphere, irradiated her into forgetfulness of her past sorrows, keeping back the gloomy spectres that would persist in their attempts to touch herβdoubt, fear, moodiness, care, shame. She knew that they were waiting like wolves just outside the circumscribing light, but she had long spells of power to keep them in hungry subjection there.
The trees have inquisitive eyes, haven't they? -that is, seem as if they had. And the river says,-'Why do ye trouble me with your looks?' And you seem to see numbers of to-morrows just all in a line, the first of them the biggest and clearest, the others getting smaller and smaller as they stand further away; but they all seem very fierce and cruel and as if they said, 'I'm coming! Beware of me! Beware of me!
It is staggering that God should love sinners, yet it is true.
The most heartbreakingly beautiful girl I ever hope to see
If soul my look and body touch, Which is the more blest?
All this, all of this love we're talking about, it would just be a memory. Maybe not even a memory. Am I wrong? Am I way off base? Because I want you to set me straight if you think I'm wrong. I want to know. I mean, I don't know anything, and I'm the first one to admit it.
Please watch out for each other and love and forgive everybody. It's a good life, enjoy it.
Her eyes are homes of silent prayers.
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