I'm currently reading The Essays by Francis Bacon. I'm troubled by the meaning of this axiom, "There was never proud man thought so absurdly well of himself as the lover doth of the person loved: And therefore it is well said, That it is impossible to love and to be wise." Can anyone explain the meaning of this quote for me?
Pride is obviously seen as a bad thing here.Originally Posted by Mia Leah
Even the most stupidly proud man doesn’t think as well of himself as a lover thinks of his or her beloved. By using the comparison, especially with the comment ‘thought so absurdly well of himself’, Bacon is suggesting that love is rather foolish - based on vanity and a misperception of the object of our affection. In the case of the proud man, that object of affection is himself; in the case of the lover, it is the beloved.
As a result of this, people correctly say that you can’t be wise and in love at the same time. The implication is that love is foolish.
Never let your dingledongle dangle in the dirt
always keep thine dingledongle underneath the shirt.
Can anyone explain the meaning of this quote for me?
Champagne for my real friends and real pain for my sham friends
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