Women know the way to rear up children (to be just). They know a simple, merry, tender knack of tying sashes, fitting baby-shoes, and stringing pretty words that make no sense. And kissing full sense into empty words.
Elizabeth Barrett BrowningRead
If thou must love me, let it be for naught except for love's sake only.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Love should be genuine and unconditional, not based on any gain or expectation.
This quote emphasizes the value of pure and selfless love. Elizabeth Barrett Browning asserts that true love should not come with conditions or expectations; instead, it should exist solely for the sake of love itself. This perspective challenges the notion of transactional or conditional relationships, promoting an ideal of love that is authentic and free from ulterior motives.
Themes
LoveSelflessUnconditionalGenuineRelationship
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a wedding ceremony to emphasize the importance of authentic love.
More from Elizabeth Barrett Browning
All quotes βShe has seen the mystery hid Under Egypt's pyramid: By those eyelids pale and close Now she knows what Rhamses knows.
Elizabeth Barrett BrowningRead
First time he kissed me, he but only kissed The fingers of this hand wherewith I write; And, ever since, it grew more clean and white.
Elizabeth Barrett BrowningRead
Earth's crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God: But only he who sees takes off his shoes.
Elizabeth Barrett BrowningRead
Our Euripides the human, With his droppings of warm tears, and his touchings of things common Till they rose to meet the spheres.
Elizabeth Barrett BrowningRead
Love me sweet With all thou art Feeling, thinking, seeing; Love me in the Lightest part, Love me in full Being.
Elizabeth Barrett BrowningRead
Similar quotes
I am sorry I ran from you. I am still running, running from that knowledge, that eye, that love from which there is no refuge. For you meant only love, and love, and I felt only fear, and pain. So once in Israel love came to us incarnate, stood in the doorway between two worlds, and we were all afraid.
Annie DillardRead
Love has been taken away from the poets, and has been brought within the domain of true science. It may prove to be one of the great cosmic elementary forces. When the atom of hydrogen draws the atom of chlorine towards it to form the perfected molecule of hydrochloric acid, the force which it exerts may be intrinsically similar to that which draws me to you. Attraction and repulsion appear to be the primary forces. This is attraction.
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It's not so much that he can't fall in love, but he has not the weakness necessary.
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Even if it makes others comfortable, I will LOVE who I am
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I hid my love when young till I_x000D_ Couldn't bear the buzzing of a fly;_x000D_ I hid my life to my despite_x000D_ Till I could not bear to look at light:_x000D_ I dare not gaze upon her face_x000D_ But left her memory in each place;_x000D_ Where'er I saw a wild flower lie_x000D_ I kissed and bade my love good-bye.
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Birds do it, bees do it, even educated fleas do it; let's do it, let's fall in love.
Cole PorterRead