The quarrels of lovers are the renewal of love.
I embrace my rival, but only to strangle him.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that rivalry can be embraced, but it ultimately leads to competition or conflict.
In this quote, Jean Racine expresses a complex perspective on rivalry, indicating that while he may acknowledge and accept his rivals, the underlying intention is one of dominance or competition. The imagery of embracing a rival only to strangle them symbolizes the duality of relationships in competitive contexts, where there may be an acknowledgment of the other person, but it is accompanied by a desire to overcome or defeat them, highlighting the often contradictory nature of human interactions in the face of competition.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech on competition in business, one might say, 'As Jean Racine said, I embrace my rival, but only to strangle him, highlighting the nature of competition.'
More from Jean Racine
All quotes βI have everything, yet have nothing; and although I possess nothing, still of nothing am I in want.
I am a man, and nothing that concerns a man do I deem a matter of indifference to me.
There are no secrets that time does not reveal.
A single word often betrays a great design.
Similar quotes
All words, in every language, are metaphors.
The observer, when he seems to himself to be observing a stone, is really, if physics is to be believed, observing the effects of the stone upon himself.
I don't think you should have to try to be nice, I think most people are nice. I think being cheerful and nice is just a politeness.
Human life must always be defended from its beginning in the womb and must be recognised as a gift of God that guarantees the future of humanity.
Sentimentality, the ostentatious parading of excessive and spurious emotion, is the mark of dishonesty...the wet eyes of the sentimentalist betray his aversion to experience, his fear of life, his arid heart; and it is always, therefore, the signal of secret and violent humanity, the mark of cruelty.
My hope is to gain a fresh hearing for Jesus, especially among those who believe they already understand him. In his case, quite frankly, presumed familiarity has led to unfamiliarity, unfamiliarity has led to contempt, and contempt has led to profound ignorance.