The common idea that success spoils people by making them vain, egotistic and self-complacent is erroneous; on the contrary it makes them, for the most part, humble, tolerant and kind.
W. Somerset MaughamRead
She could not admit but that he had remarkable qualities, sometimes she thought that there was even in him a strange and unattractive greatness; it was curious then that she could not love him, but loved still a man whose worthlessness was now so clear to her.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote explores the complexity of love, highlighting how we can recognize someone's admirable traits yet remain unable to love them.
This quote by W. Somerset Maugham delves into the paradox of love and attraction. It reflects on the notion that a person can acknowledge the remarkable qualities of another without being able to form a romantic connection with them. In contrast, the speaker finds herself still in love with someone whose flaws are evident, suggesting that emotions often defy logic and reason. This emotional conflict underscores the complexities of relationships and the subjective nature of love.
Themes
LoveAttractionRelationshipsComplexityEmotions
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a discussion about why we sometimes choose partners who are not good for us.
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