I hope, if you should live to grow up, you will endeavour to be very useful and not spend all your time in pleasing yourself.
Elizabeth FryRead
The loveliest, sweetest flower that bloomed in paradise, and the first that died, has rarely blossomed since on mortal soil. It is so frail, so delicate, a thing, it is gone if it but look upon itself; and she who ventures to esteem it hers proves by that single thought she has it not.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the ephemeral nature of beauty and love, suggesting that true appreciation can lessen its value.
Elizabeth Fry's quote captures the fragility of beautiful things, especially love, implying that their rarity and delicacy make them incredibly precious. It conveys a profound truth about how possessing something as beautiful as love can alter its value, as true admiration may come with the realization of its unattainable nature, leading to a deeper sense of loss and longing.
Themes
LoveBeautyFragilityLossAppreciation
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used during a wedding ceremony to highlight the delicate nature of love.
More from Elizabeth Fry
All quotes βSimilar quotes
Through [my friends] I discovered what it was to love people. There was an art to it...which was not really all that different from the love that is necessary in the making of art. It required the effort of always seeing them for themselves and not as I wished them to be.
Lucy GrealyRead
Love like there's no tomorrow; live like there's no yesterday. We're forgiven; now go love people like we believe it
Bob GoffRead
I love your daughter fondly, dearly, disinterestedly, devotedly. If ever there were love in the world, I love her.
Charles DickensRead
Why do I write? I have been called a writer of catastrophes, but that isn't true. I am always looking for words of love. Hate will not save us. Only love.
Svetlana AlexievichRead
Lovers who love truly do not write down their happiness.
Anatole FranceRead
When we choose to love, we choose to move against fear, against alienation and separation. The choice to love is a choice to connect, to find ourselves in the other.
Bell HooksRead