Let us live, my Lesbia, and let us love. Vivamus, mea Lesbia, atque amemus
CatullusRead
It is difficult to suddenly give up a long love. Difficile est longum subito deponere amorem
Interpretation
Ending a long-term love is a challenging and painful process.
Catullus expresses the complexity and emotional weight of relinquishing a deep and enduring love. The quote highlights that love, especially one that has lasted a significant time, is not easily abandoned, reflecting the struggles and attachments that come with such intense emotional bonds.
In practice
In a speech about the complexities of relationships, you might quote this to emphasize the difficulty of moving on after a meaningful connection.
Let us live, my Lesbia, and let us love. Vivamus, mea Lesbia, atque amemus
Give me a thousand kisses, then a hundred, then a thousand more.
Godlike the man who_x000D_ sits at her side, who_x000D_ watches and catches_x000D_ that laughter_x000D_ which (softly) tears me_x000D_ to tatters: nothing is left of me, each time_x000D_ I see her.
Brother, hello and good-bye. Frater, ave atque vale
To whom do I give my new elegant little book? Cui dono lepidum novum libellum?
My mind's sunk so low, Claudia, because of you, wrecked itself on your account so bad already, that I couldn't like you if you were the best of women, -or stop loving you, no matter what you do.
I always think the most romantic books or films are the ones where the romance doesn't happen, because it makes your heart ache so much watching it.
Those who love others _x000D_ grandly are those who love themselves grandly. Those who have a high _x000D_ toleration and acceptance of others are those who have a high _x000D_ toleration and acceptance of themselves. You cannot show another a part _x000D_ of you that you cannot show yourself. Therefore, begin where all _x000D_ growth, where all evolution, where all love must begin; with the person _x000D_ in the mirror.
He lacked tenderness; he was rude; and he had more than a streak of cruelty in him; he was a thief and a liar. He stood for everything she feared and hated and despised; but she knew she could love him... This was no choice made with the mind.
I suspect the most we can hope for, and it's no small hope, is that we never give up, that we never stop giving ourselves permission to try to love and receive love.
Quick-loving hearts ... may quickly loathe.
I never yet did hear, That the bruis'd heart was pierced through the ear
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.