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
What this quote means
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.
Themes
LoveLongingAttachmentPainHeartbreak
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the complexities of relationships, you might quote this to emphasize the difficulty of moving on after a meaningful connection.
More from Catullus
All quotes βGive me a thousand kisses, then a hundred, then a thousand more.
CatullusRead
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.
CatullusRead
Brother, hello and good-bye. Frater, ave atque vale
CatullusRead
To whom do I give my new elegant little book? Cui dono lepidum novum libellum?
CatullusRead
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.
CatullusRead
Similar quotes
Something in your eyes captured my soul, and every night I see you in my dreams. You're all I know. I can't let go.
Mariah CareyRead
You're my backbone. You're a blessing. You're a piece of my heart. You're the air I breathe. And you're the strongest person I know, and I'm so sorry for having to put you through this and having to put our family through this.
Kobe BryantRead
Everything hurts, every single thing including the weight of him and I'm crying because it hurts and he's telling me he's sorry over and over again, and I figure somewhere down the track we'll work out the right way of doing this but I don't want to let go, because tonight I'm not looking for anything more than being a part of him. Because being a part of him isn't just anything. It's kind of everything.
Melina MarchettaRead
But love, like the sun that it is, sets afire and melts everything. what greed and privilege to build up over whole centuries the indignation of a pious spirit, with its natural following of oppressed souls, will cast down with a single shove.
Jose MartiRead
Love goes very far beyond the physical person of the beloved. It finds its deepest meaning in its spiritual being, his inner self. Whether or not he is actually present, whether or not he is still alive at all, ceases somehow to be of importance.
Viktor E. FranklRead
If someone wants to say 'I love you' in a straight play, they say it, and then it's the other person's turn to talk. But in a song, you can sing about it for another three minutes. The musical form has that unique opportunity to express at length what joy really feels like.
Marsha NormanRead