Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart. The really great men must, I think, have great sadness on earth.
Fyodor DostoevskyRead
... active love is a harsh and fearful thing compared with the love in dreams. Love in dreams thirsts for immediate action, quickly performed, and with everyone watching. Indeed, it will go as far as the giving even of one's life, provided it does not take long but is soon over, as on stage, and eveyone is looking on and praising. Whereas active love is labor and persistence, and for some people, perhaps, a whole science.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Active love requires effort and persistence, unlike the idealized, dreamy love that seeks immediate gratification.
This quote by Fyodor Dostoevsky contrasts two forms of love: the idealized love found in dreams, which often craves quick validation and dramatic gestures, versus active love, which is a demanding process that requires hard work, commitment, and sustained effort. While dreamy love might seem appealing and romantic, the reality of active love involves navigating challenges and exerting continuous effort, highlighting the complexity and depth that true love requires.
Themes
Active LoveDream LoveCommitmentEffortPersistence
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about real relationships, this quote can illustrate how true love goes beyond mere affection.
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But do you understand, I cry to him, do you understand that if you have the guillotine in the forefront, and with such glee, it's for the sole reason that cutting heads off is the easiest thing, and having an idea is difficult!
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...to return to their 'native soil,' as they say, to the bosom, so to speak, of their mother earth, like frightened children, yearning to fall asleep on the withered bosom of their decrepit mother, and to sleep there for ever, only to escape the horrors that terrify them.
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