I write of love and death. What other subjects are there?
Arthur SchnitzlerRead
It is better to put on the brakes sooner, for some fine day you begin to understand — to pardon everything — and then where is the charm of life, if you cannot love or hate any more?
Interpretation
What this quote means
Life's richness comes from the ability to feel strong emotions, both positive and negative.
This quote suggests that experiencing a full spectrum of emotions, including love and hate, is essential to appreciating life. By putting on emotional brakes too soon, one may miss out on the depth and charm that come from genuinely engaging with one's feelings, leading to a more nuanced understanding of existence.
Themes
EmotionsLifeLoveHateExperience
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about emotional intelligence, one could reference this quote to emphasize the importance of embracing both positive and negative emotions.
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All quotes →No specter assails us in more varied disguises than loneliness, and one of its most impenetrable masks is called love.
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