I can only note that the past is beautiful because one never realises an emotion at the time. It expands later, and thus we don't have complete emotions about the present, only about the past.
Virginia WoolfRead
Well, I’ve had my fun; I’ve had it, he thought, looking up at the swinging baskets of pale geraniums. And it was smashed to atoms—his fun, for it was half made up, as he knew very well; invented, this escapade with the girl; made up, as one makes up the better part of life, he thought—making onself up; making her up; creating an exquisite amusement, and something more. But odd it was, and quite true; all this one could never share—it smashed to atoms.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the nature of personal experiences and the intricacies of one's subjective joy and pain, which are often unshareable.
In this quote, Virginia Woolf explores the concept of enjoyment and emotional fulfillment, suggesting that much of what we perceive as fun or happiness is often a personal construct—a fabrication of our desires and imaginations. The protagonist realizes that while he has constructed enjoyable moments in his life, the reality of these moments is fragile and ultimately uncommunicable to others. This highlights the complexity of human experiences, where joy is intertwined with solitude and the inability to fully share one’s internal world with others.
Themes
FunCreationExperienceJoySolitude
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the complexities of relationships, this quote could highlight how personal joy can be difficult to articulate.
More from Virginia Woolf
All quotes →Death is woven in with the violets,” said Louis. “Death and again death.”)
Virginia WoolfRead
He began to search among the infinite series of impressions which time had laid down, leaf upon leaf, fold upon fold softly, incessantly upon his brain; among scents, sounds; voices, harsh, hollow, sweet; and lights passing, and brooms tapping; and the wash and hush of the sea.
Virginia WoolfRead
I want to think quietly, calmly, spaciously, never to be interrupted, never to have to rise from my chair, to slip easily from one thing to another, without any sense of hostility, or obstacle. I want to sink deeper and deeper, away from the surface, with its hard separate facts.
Virginia WoolfRead
I do think all good and evil comes from words. I have to tune myself into a good temper with something musical, and I run to a book as a child to its mother.
Virginia WoolfRead
London perpetually attracts, stimulates, gives me a play and a story and a poem, without any trouble, save that of moving my legs through the streets... To walk alone through London is the greatest rest.
Virginia WoolfRead
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