L'absence diminue les mediocres passions, et augmente les grandes, comme le vent eteint les bougies et allume le feu.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Absence diminishes weak passions and increases strong ones, like wind extinguishing candles but lighting fires.
- In plain terms
- Distance weakens small feelings but intensifies deep ones.
- What can you take from it?
- Distance can amplify strong emotions while fading weak ones.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Has absence strengthened or ended a relationship for you?
Another view
Sometimes distance just ends everything regardless of strength.
More from Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Il n'y a guere d'homme assez habile pour connaitre tout le mal qu'il fait.
Permalink to quote #70 Il est impossible d'aimer une seconde fois ce qu'on a veritablement cesse d'aimer.
Permalink to quote #72 Le plaisir de l'amour est d'aimer; et l'on est plus heureux par la passion que l'on a que par celle que l'on donne.
Permalink to quote #69
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