“It is love. I will have to run or hide.The walls of its prison rise up, as in a twisted dream. The beautiful mask has changed, but as always it is the one. Of what use are my talismans: the literary exercises, the vague erudition, the knowledge of words used by the harsh North to sing its seas and swords, the temperate friendship, the galleries of the Library, the common things, the habits, the young love of my mother, the militant shadow of my dead, the timeless night, the taste of dreams?Being with you or being without you is the measure of my time.Now the pitcher breaks about the spring, now the man arises to the sound of birds, now those that watch at the windows have gone dark, but the darkness has brought no peace.It, I know, is love: the anxiety and the relief at hearing your voice, the expectation and the memory, the horror of living in succession.It is love with its mythologies, with its tiny useless magics.There exists a corner that I dare not cross.Now the armies confine me, the hordes.(This room is unreal; she has not seen it.)The name of a woman gives me away.A woman hurts me in all of my body.”
Quote Analysis
In this passage from Jorge Luis Borges, the speaker explores the complex and consuming nature of love. The use of vivid imagery and introspective reflection conveys the overwhelming power that love holds over the individual. The speaker struggles with the transformation that love brings, likening it to a prison with rising walls and changing masks. Despite their attempts to find solace in various aspects of their life, such as literature, friendship, and memories, the speaker realizes that love is the ultimate measure of their existence. The mention of a woman's name reveals the intensity and vulnerability of the speaker's emotions, showing how love can both bring joy and pain. Borges masterfully captures the paradoxical nature of love, describing it as both an anxiety and a relief, a horror and a myth. The image of being confined by armies and hordes highlights the suffocating grip that love can have on an individual, further emphasizing the all-encompassing nature of this emotion. Borges' powerful language and thoughtful exploration of love make this passage a poignant reflection on the complexities of human relationships.
Modern Relevance:
Jorge Luis Borges' poetic exploration of the complexities of love remains relevant in today's world, where the emotions and uncertainties surrounding relationships continue to shape our experiences. His evocative words capture the intense longing, anxiety, and fear that often accompany deep emotional connections. The struggle between desire and fear of vulnerability is a universal theme that resonates with readers across time and cultures. Borges' contemplation on the power of love, both to sustain and to wound, offers a timeless reflection on the human experience.
Example of Usage
Here is an excerpt from Jorge Luis Borges' writing that beautifully depicts the complexities and emotions of love. Borges uses imagery and metaphors to describe the anguish and longing that love can bring.
“It is love. I will have to run or hide. The walls of its prison rise up, as in a twisted dream. The beautiful mask has changed, but as always it is the one. Of what use are my talismans: the literary exercises, the vague erudition, the knowledge of words used by the harsh North to sing its seas and swords, the temperate friendship, the galleries of the Library, the common things, the habits, the young love of my mother, the militant shadow of my dead, the timeless night, the taste of dreams?
Being with you or being without you is the measure of my time. Now the pitcher breaks about the spring, now the man arises to the sound of birds, now those that watch at the windows have gone dark, but the darkness has brought no peace.
It, I know, is love: the anxiety and the relief at hearing your voice, the expectation and the memory, the horror of living in succession.
It is love with its mythologies, with its tiny useless magics.
There exists a corner that I dare not cross.
Now the armies confine me, the hordes.
(This room is unreal; she has not seen it.)
The name of a woman gives me away.
A woman hurts me in all of my body.”
Reflection Questions:
The excerpt from Jorge Luis Borges' work delves into the complexities of love and its ability to both bring joy and pain. Reflect on the following questions to deepen your understanding of the themes present in the passage:
- How does Borges' portrayal of love in this passage challenge traditional notions of romance and relationships?
- In what ways does the speaker struggle with the dichotomy of love as both a source of joy and pain?
- Consider the references to literary exercises, erudition, and other talismans in the passage. How do these elements contribute to the speaker's understanding of love?
- Reflect on the imagery of confinement and darkness in the excerpt. What do these symbols suggest about the nature of love and its impact on the speaker?
Similar quotes
“The man of my dreams is almost faded now. The one I have created in my mind. The sort of man each woman dreams of in her most secret and deepest part of her heart. I could almost see him now before me. What would I say to him if he were really here? Forgive me, I've never known this feeling. I've lived without it all my life. Is it any wonder that I fail to recognize it? You brought it to me for the first time. Is there any way I can tell you how my life has changed? Anyway at all, to let you know what sweetness you have given me? There's so much to say-- and I can't find the words-- except for these... I love you. That is what I would say to him if he were really here. ”
“Prayer for LoveThank You, Creator of the Universe for the gift of Life you have given me,Thank You for giving me everything that I have ever needed,Thank You for the opportunity to experience this beautiful body and this wonderful mind,Thank You for living inside me with all Your Love and Your pure and boundless Spirit,with Your warm and radiating Light.Thank You for using my words, for using my eyes, for using my heart to share your love wherever I go.I love You just the way you are and because I am your creation, I love myself just the way I am.Help me to keep the Love and the Peace in my Heart and to make that Love a new way of life, that I may live in Love the rest of my life.Amen.”
“I love you. That won't change because you tell me you don't love me. My love is not dependent on yours. It's just there, and I won't do anything to cut it out of my heart. It's what I've waited for all my life, and if you walk out that door, I'll go to my grave loving you, missing you, praying that you'll come back to me. I will never love another woman the way I love you. I will always be there for you. If you leave, know that my door is open. I will always be waiting for you to walk back through it.”
“It's late,' he said again, murmuring, almost crooning now, his voice smoother than silk. 'Sleep, my Bella. Dream happy dreams. You are the only one who has ever touched my heart. It will always be yours. Sleep, my only love.”
“My darling sweetheart, you ask me why I love you. I do not know. All I know is that I do love you, and beyond measure. Why do you love me? Surely a more inscrutable problem? You do not know. No one ever knows. ‘The heart has its reasons which the reason knows not of.’ We love in obedience to a powerful gravitation of our beings, and then try to explain it by recapitulating one another’s character just as a man forms his opinions first and then thinks out reasons in support.What delights me is to recall that our love has evolved. It did not suddenly spring into existence like some beautiful sprite. It developed slowly to perfection. It was forged in the white heat of our experiences. That is why it will always remain.”