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
What this quote means
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.
Themes
Unrequited LoveCrueltyEmotionsRelationshipsMaugham
In practice
Example use cases
Discussing the complexities of unrequited love in a relationship seminar.
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