There is no feeling, except the extremes of fear and grief, that does not find relief in music.
T. S. EliotRead
There are three conditions which often look alike Yet differ completely, flourish in the same hedgerow: Attachment to self and to things and to persons, detachment From self and from things and from persons; and, growing between them, indifference, ... .
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote explores the distinctions between attachment, detachment, and indifference in human relationships and self-perception.
T. S. Eliot's quote reflects on three states of emotional engagement: attachment, which involves a strong bond to oneself, others, and material possessions; detachment, characterized by a release of that bond; and indifference, which represents a lack of concern or care altogether. The quote invites us to consider how these states affect our experiences of life and relationships, emphasizing that while they may look similar, they bring about different emotional responses and consequences.
Themes
AttachmentDetachmentIndifferenceRelationshipsSelf
In practice
Example use cases
In a philosophical discussion on human emotions, one might reference Eliot's quote to illustrate the complexity of attachment.
More from T. S. Eliot
All quotes →Half of the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don't mean to do harm. But the harm does not interest them.
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I am an Anglo-Catholic in religion, a classicist in literature and a royalist in politics.
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If you aren't in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?
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For I have known them all already, known them all— Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons, I have measured out my life with coffee spoons.
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In the faint moonlight, the grass is singing
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