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When I clamber to the heights of sleep, Or when I grow excited with wine, suddenly I meet your face.
William Butler Yeats
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The speaker finds solace and inspiration in the memory of a loved one during moments of rest or indulgence.

In this quote, William Butler Yeats expresses the profound impact that love has on his consciousness. He reveals that whether he is drifting into sleep or enjoying a drink, the thought of his beloved always resurfaces, indicating that their presence is deeply embedded in his mind and emotions. This highlights the intertwining of love with one's inherent experiences, suggesting that true love transcends circumstances and remains a constant source of joy and comfort.

Themes

LoveMemoryComfortInspirationEmotion

In practice

Example use cases

In a romantic speech at a wedding, one could share this quote to express the lasting impact of love.

More from William Butler Yeats

If a poet interprets a poem of his own he limits its suggestibility.
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It was my first meeting with a philosophy that confirmed my vague speculations and seemed at once logical and boundless.
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But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
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How far away the stars seem, and how far is our first kiss, and ah, how old my heart.
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Love is created and preserved by intellectual analysis, for we love only that which is unique, and it belongs to contemplation, not to action, for we would not change that which we love.
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