It is a weird thought that anyone is permitted to love anyone and in any way he pleases. Nothing in nature forbids it. A cat may look at a king, the worthless can love the good, the good the worthless, the worthless the worthless, and the good the good…
Love knows no conventions. Anything can happen, so in a way, a terrible terrible way, there were no impossibilities. Ah, I have thought of this too, my dear, and it has not been the least part of my suffering. You might have loved me. It was, alas, logically possible. But what made me go away was not simply my sense of the improbability of the conceivable, but my knowledge that my very great love was a very great destroyer.
If I had been the saint that I could be I would have loved you and let you know it and stayed near you and done you no harm at all, surrounding you like the harmless air and making you almost not notice how much I loved you.
–Iris Murdoch.Bruno’s Dream.
Can feel the pain. It’s almost tangible. Good one, Paige. Here’s a quote for you, my friend.
“One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats.”
― Iris Murdoch
Your posts are those small treats that give me happiness.
Oh no, sorry it seemed painful! It’s where I am at the moment, but it’s leaving me feeling refreshed and pleased.
Alas. I love that one. She’s superfantastic.
she is! and everything to do with love seems painful to cynical me
This is wonderful. I also love that more cheering quote from Ms. Murdoch above! Thank you.
I really enjoy your posts. And they are also nice and compact. Mine are too long sometimes, I fear!!
I love this passage. I just added Bruno’s Wish to my Goodreads list!
Catbird: if you haven’t read Murdoch before, my favorite book to recommend is The Black Prince. More compact than some of her others, but equally witty, insightful, and philosophical. I loved Bruno, but I find something good in everything she writes, and Bruno was tough to find.
Thanks for the recommendation! I’ll add this one to my Goodreads list as well!
Fantastic post! It hit me in quite the powerful way tonight. I think it came at the perfect time when I need to see it.
I’m so pleased, Apple. It was speaking to me as well. Looking forward to the next encounter with love!
So much talent in this blog…..I have nominated you for the Reality Blog Award. Your blog gives me peace
http://momentsofclarityandotherthings.wordpress.com/2013/01/19/reality-blog-award/