It has become necessary for me to have this woman, so as to save myself from the ridicule of being in love with her: for to what lengths will a man not be driven by thwarted desire?
Pierre Choderlos De LaclosRead
How characteristic of your perverse heart that longs only for what happens to be out of reach.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the human tendency to desire what we cannot attain.
In this quote, Pierre Choderlos De Laclos highlights a common trait of human nature: the inclination to yearn for things that are beyond our grasp. This longing can stem from a complex interplay of desire and dissatisfaction, suggesting that people often find themselves fixated on unattainable goals, leading to an unfulfilled existence. It serves as a reminder of the challenges and paradoxes of human aspiration.
Themes
DesireLongingHuman NatureAspirationUnattainable
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about overcoming desires, one could use this quote to illustrate the futility of chasing the unattainable.
More from Pierre Choderlos De Laclos
All quotes →Humanity is not perfect in any fashion; no more in the case of evil than in that of good. The criminal has his virtues, just as the honest man has his weaknesses.
Pierre Choderlos De LaclosRead
Cast between the extremes of happiness and misfortune, uncertainty is a cruel torment.
Pierre Choderlos De LaclosRead
I am astonished at the pleasure one experiences in doing good; and I should be tempted to believe that what we call virtuous people have not so much merit as they lead us to suppose.
Pierre Choderlos De LaclosRead
It was there, in particular, that I confirmed the truth that love, which we cry up as the source of our pleasures, is nothing more than an excuse for them.
Pierre Choderlos De LaclosRead
...it is not for the illusion of a moment to govern the choice of a lifetime.
Pierre Choderlos De LaclosRead
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