The common idea that success spoils people by making them vain, egotistic and self-complacent is erroneous; on the contrary it makes them, for the most part, humble, tolerant and kind.
W. Somerset MaughamRead
There is no cruelty greater than a woman's to a man who loves her and whom she does not love; she has no kindness then, no tolerance even, she has only an insane irritation.
Interpretation
The quote reflects the emotional pain that can arise when unrequited love exists, particularly from a woman's perspective towards a man who loves her.
W. Somerset Maugham's quote speaks to the harsh and often intolerant behavior a woman may exhibit towards a man who is deeply in love with her, yet she does not reciprocate his feelings. It highlights the psychological turmoil of unrequited love and illustrates how the absence of mutual affection can lead to cruelty, irritation, and a lack of empathy from the person who does not feel the same way.
In practice
Discussing the complexities of unrequited love in a relationship seminar.
The common idea that success spoils people by making them vain, egotistic and self-complacent is erroneous; on the contrary it makes them, for the most part, humble, tolerant and kind.
Cronshaw stopped for a moment to drink. He had pondered for twenty years the problem whether he loved liquor because it made him talk or whether he loved conversation because it made him thirsty.
Are you sure you can prevent yourself from falling in love one of these days? Such things do happen, you know, even to the most prudent men.' Simon gave him a strange, one might even have thought a hostile, look. I should tear it out of my heart as I'd wrench out of my mouth a rotten tooth.
I don't think of the past. The only thing that matters is the everlasting present.
The world is quickly bored by the recital of misfortune, and willing avoids the sight of distress.
There in the mist, enormous, majestic, silent and terrible, stood the Great Wall of China. Solitarily, with the indifference of nature herself, it crept up the mountain side and slipped down to the depth of the valley.
Marriage is the most natural state of man, and... the state in which you will find solid happiness.
I believe that in the long run, separation between Israel and the Palestinians is the best solution for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
My fans are who I am. You give meaning to my life. You will never know the connection I feel to you.
Labels cloud our vision and distract us from seeing how much we have in common with one another.
Sex is full of lies. The body tries to tell the truth. But, it's usually too battered with rules to be heard, and bound with pretenses so it can hardly move. We cripple ourselves with lies.
Are you the new person drawn toward me? To begin with, take warning, I am surely far different from what you suppose.
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