“Love is like the measles. The older you get it, the worse the attack.”
Rainer Maria Rilke's comparison of love to the measles may initially seem strange, but upon closer examination, it reveals a deeper truth about the intensity of love as one grows older. Just as the measles can be more severe in adults, Rilke suggests that love can also become more intense and consuming with age. This metaphor highlights the idea that the emotions and experiences of love can have a profound impact on individuals as they mature, influencing their thoughts, actions, and overall well-being. It implies that love can be both exhilarating and overwhelming, especially as one gains more life experience and perspective.
“Like the measles, love is most dangerous when it comes late in life.”
“There are things which some people never attempt during their whole lives, but one of these is not poetry. Poetry attacks all human beings sooner or later, and, like the measles, is mild or violent according to the age of the sufferer.”
“Sorry. I get attacks of quotitis every once in a while. It's a very rare disease with no cure. It usually attacks older people, and here i am afflicted with it at my tender age.”
“Love: It's like a bottled wine, to be kept in seclusion. The older it gets, the richer it tastes.”
“Amsterdam is like the rings of a tree: It gets older as you get closer to the center.”