“The most powerful symptom of love is a tenderness which becomes at times almost insupportable.”
- February 26, 1802 – May 22, 1885
- Born in France
- Author, poet, playwright
- Written novels and poems such as “Les Miserables” and “Notre-Dame de Paris,” he was a representative figure of French Romantic literature and had a worldwide influence.
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Quote
“The most powerful symptom of love is a tenderness which becomes at times almost insupportable.”
Explanation
In this quote, Victor Hugo suggests that the greatest and most intense expression of love is found in a tenderness that can be so overwhelming that it becomes almost unbearable. This tenderness is not just gentle affection, but a deep emotional connection that touches the very core of the lover’s being. When love reaches this level of intensity, the vulnerability and sensitivity it brings can become overpowering. The lover feels such a strong need to care for and protect the object of their affection that the emotions become almost too much to bear, causing moments of emotional exhaustion or longing.
Hugo’s words reflect his understanding of love as not just a joyous or fulfilling emotion, but also as something that can cause pain and overwhelm when the connection is deep. True love, in his view, involves a level of sensitivity that leaves the individual both empowered and vulnerable, making the experience of loving someone profoundly intense.
In modern terms, this quote speaks to the complex nature of romantic love and affection. Love is not always an easy or comfortable emotion, and at its deepest, it can evoke sensitivity and longing that can feel almost insupportable. It acknowledges that the emotional depth of love can both uplift and challenge us, and that tenderness, when it is felt at its strongest, can become an emotional burden we must navigate.
