QuoteProject
Her affection for him was now the breath and life of Tess's being; it enveloped her as a photosphere, irradiated her into forgetfulness of her past sorrows, keeping back the gloomy spectres that would persist in their attempts to touch her—doubt, fear, moodiness, care, shame. She knew that they were waiting like wolves just outside the circumscribing light, but she had long spells of power to keep them in hungry subjection there.
Thomas Hardy
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

The love Tess has for him gives her life and shields her from her past troubles.

In this quote, Thomas Hardy illustrates the transformative power of love in Tess's life. Her affection embodies a protective force that surrounds her, allowing her to forget her earlier hardships and fend off negative emotions like doubt and shame. Despite her awareness of these lurking feelings, the strength of her love provides her with the resilience needed to keep them at bay.

Themes

LoveAffectionResiliencePastEmotionsProtection

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about overcoming adversity, one might use this quote to illustrate the power of love in personal healing.

More from Thomas Hardy

Everybody must be managed. Queens must be managed. Kings must be managed, for men want managing almost as much as women, and that's saying a good deal.
Thomas HardyRead
Because what's the use of learning that I am one of a long row only - finding out that there is set down in some old book somebody just like me, and to know that I shall only act her part; making me sad, that's all. The best is not to remember your nature and your past doings have been just like thousands' and thousands', and that your coming life and doings'll be like thousands' and thousands'.
Thomas HardyRead
But nothing is more insidious than the evolution of wishes from mere fancies, and of wants from mere wishes.
Thomas HardyRead
I wish I had never been born--there or anywhere else.
Thomas HardyRead
The trees have inquisitive eyes, haven't they? -that is, seem as if they had. And the river says,-'Why do ye trouble me with your looks?' And you seem to see numbers of to-morrows just all in a line, the first of them the biggest and clearest, the others getting smaller and smaller as they stand further away; but they all seem very fierce and cruel and as if they said, 'I'm coming! Beware of me! Beware of me!
Thomas HardyRead
Of course poets have morals and manners of their own, and custom is no argument with them.
Thomas HardyRead

Similar quotes

In the end it is nothing other than the loving kindness with which the woman cares for her child that makes the difference. Her concern concentrates on one thing just like the Buddhist practice of concentration. She thinks of nothing but her child, which is similar to Buddhist compassion. That must be why, although she created no other causes to bring about it, she was reborn in the Brahma heaven.
Gautama BuddhaRead
She reflected she must be completely besotted about Peter, if his laughter could hallow an aspidistra.
Dorothy L. SayersRead
The greater good is achieved by not only telling people what they need to know, but also filling them with a sense of empathy and love.
Abigail DisneyRead
Beloved, till life can charm no more; And mourned, till Pity's self be dead.
William CollinsRead
I will say that as I get older and calmer and quieter in my own self, the one quality in a woman that I find more and more attractive is kindness. A sense of adventure and humor is important too, but I truly find kindness and consideration for others to be the most attractive thing in anyone.
Colin FarrellRead
I might have enjoyed the company of a woman or two... Or three but that had never stopped me from loving you.
F. Scott FitzgeraldRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.