The common idea that success spoils people by making them vain, egotistic and self-complacent is erroneous; on the contrary it makes them, for the most part, humble, tolerant and kind.
W. Somerset MaughamRead
He knew that all things human are transitory and therefore that it must cease one day or another. He looked forward to that day with eager longing. Love was like a parasite in his heart, nourishing a hateful existence on his life's blood; it absorbed his existence so intensely that he could take pleasure in nothing else.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the transient nature of human experiences and the consuming nature of love, portraying it as both nourishing and painful.
In this quote, W. Somerset Maugham expresses a deep awareness of the fleeting nature of human life and experiences. He likens love to a parasite, suggesting that while it provides sustenance, it also drains him of joy and the ability to appreciate anything beyond it. This duality highlights the complex emotions associated with love, where it can be both fulfilling and burdensome.
Themes
LoveTransitorySufferingExistenceLonging
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the complexities of human emotions.
More from W. Somerset Maugham
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I don't think of the past. The only thing that matters is the everlasting present.
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The world is quickly bored by the recital of misfortune, and willing avoids the sight of distress.
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There in the mist, enormous, majestic, silent and terrible, stood the Great Wall of China. Solitarily, with the indifference of nature herself, it crept up the mountain side and slipped down to the depth of the valley.
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