Never such innocence, Never before or since, As changed itself to past Without a word--the men Leaving the gardens tidy, The thousands of marriages Lasting a little while longer: Never such innocence again.
Philip LarkinRead
Sex means nothing--just the moment of ecstasy, that flares and dies in minutes.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the fleeting nature of sexual experiences, suggesting they lack deeper significance.
Philip Larkin's quote presents a stark view of sex, portraying it as an ephemeral act that offers a brief rush of pleasure but lacks enduring value or meaning. It emphasizes the notion that such moments of ecstasy are transient, quickly extinguished like a flame, which invites reflection on the deeper connections and emotions that are often associated with love and relationships.
Themes
SexRelationshipsEcstasyFleetingPleasure
In practice
Example use cases
Discussing the nature of relationships at a seminar on intimacy.
More from Philip Larkin
All quotes →Uncontradicting solitude Supports me on its giant palm; And like a sea-anemone Or simple snail, there cautiously Unfolds, emerges, what I am.
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Saki says that youth is like hors d'oeuvres: you are so busy thinking of the next courses you don't notice it. When you've had them, you wish you'd had more hors d'oeuvres.
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Above all, though, children are linked to adults by the simple fact that they are in process of turning into them. For this they may be forgiven much. Children are bound to be inferior to adults, or there is no incentive to grow up.
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Originality is being different from oneself, not others.
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I can't understand these chaps who go round American universities explaining how they write poems: It's like going round explaining how you sleep with your wife.
Philip LarkinRead
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