Art begins when a man, with a purpose of communicating to other people a feeling he once experienced, calls it up again within himself and expresses it by certain external signs.
Leo TolstoyRead
All the girls in the world were divided into two classes: one class included all the girls in the world except her, and they had all the usual human feelings and were very ordinary girls; while the other class -herself alone- had no weaknesses and was superior to all humanity.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the perception of a unique and idealized love that elevates one above all others.
In this quote, Tolstoy illustrates the duality of admiration and idealization in romantic relationships. It suggests that the speaker sees their beloved as so extraordinary that she is separated from the rest of humanity, whom they perceive as ordinary and flawed. This comparison indicates the depth of affection, while also highlighting how such idealization can lead to a skewed perception of both love and reality.
Themes
LoveIdealizationHuman FeelingsSuperiorityRomance
In practice
Example use cases
In a romantic speech to express deep feelings.
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