We are slow to believe that which if believed would hurt our feelings.
Majesty and love do not well agree, nor do they live together.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Majesty and love are often seen as conflicting, suggesting that power and affection do not coexist harmoniously.
This quote by Ovid reflects the idea that the attributes of majesty, which often imply authority and distance, do not easily align with the intimacy and vulnerability that love requires. Love thrives on equality, closeness, and emotional connection, which can be overshadowed by the aloofness and grandeur of majesty. Therefore, the quote suggests a struggle between the two concepts, indicating that true love cannot flourish in the presence of overwhelming authority or superiority.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be shared at a wedding to highlight the importance of genuine love over power dynamics.
More from Ovid
All quotes βAll things human hang by a slender thread; and that which seemed to stand strong suddenly falls and sinks in ruins.
A new idea is delicate. It can be killed by a sneer or a yawn; it can be stabbed to death by a quip and worried to death by a frown on the right man's brow.
Fas est ab hoste doceri._x000D_ One should learn even from one's enemies.
Be patient and tough; someday this pain will be useful to you.
The end doesn't justify the means.
Similar quotes
Love always elevates the character of man. It never lowers him, provided love be love
Let us cultivate love and compassion, both of which give life true meaning. This is the religion I preach. It is simple. Its temple is the heart. Its teaching is love and compassion. Its moral values are loving and respecting others, whoever they may be. Whether one is a lay person or a monastic, we have no other option if we wish to survive in this world.
I couldn't love a woman who inspired me to be totally disinterested. If I fell in love with a woman for an artistic reason, or from the point of view of my work, I think it would rob her of something.
And what do all the great words come to in the end, but that? I love you - I am at rest with you - I have come home.
A disciple having asked for a definition of charity, the Master said LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
Perhaps love is a minor madness. And as with madness, it's unendurable alone. The one person who can relieve us is of course the sole person we cannot go to: the one we love. So instead we seek out allies, even among strangers and wives, fellow patients who, if they can't touch the edge of our particular sorrow, have felt something that cuts nearly as deep.