What was any art but a mould in which to imprison for a moment the shining elusive element which is life itself - life hurrying past us and running away, too strong to stop, too sweet to lose.
Willa CatherRead
Men are all right for friends, but as soon as you marry them they turn into cranky old fathers, even the wild ones. They begin to tell you what's sensible and what's foolish, and want you to stick at home all the time. I prefer to be foolish when I feel like it, and be accountable to nobody.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote humorously reflects on the changes in men after marriage, suggesting that they become more controlling and responsible.
Willa Cather's quote addresses the transformation that occurs in men's behavior once they enter into a marriage. It suggests that while companionship and friendship are appealing, the responsibilities and expectations of marriage can stifle a sense of freedom and playfulness. Cather humorously conveys a desire for the autonomy to act foolishly and not be subject to the constraints often imposed by marital roles.
Themes
MarriageRelationshipsFreedomHumorExpectations
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote during a toast at a wedding to lighten the mood.
More from Willa Cather
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Writing ought either to be the manufacture of stories for which there is a market demand - a business as safe and commendable as making soap or breakfast foods - or it should be an art, which is always a search for something for which there is no market demand, something new and untried, where the values are intrinsic and have nothing to do with standardized values.
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The air and the earth interpenetrated in the warm gusts of spring; the soil was full of sunlight, and the sunlight full of red dust. The air one breathed was saturated with earthy smells, and the grass under foot had a reflection of the blue sky in it.
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This is reality, whether you like it or not--all those frivolities of summer, the light and shadow, the living mask of green that trembled over everything, they were lies, and this is what was underneath. This is the truth.
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