“Love, in the eyes of the world, is either a carnal appetite or a vague fancy, which possession extinguishes or absence destroys. That is why it is commonly said, with a strange abuse of words, that passion does not endure.”

Victor Hugo
Victor Hugo quotes
  • 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.

Quote

“Love, in the eyes of the world, is either a carnal appetite or a vague fancy, which possession extinguishes or absence destroys. That is why it is commonly said, with a strange abuse of words, that passion does not endure.”

Explanation

In this quote, Victor Hugo critiques the common misunderstanding of love, especially in the way it is perceived by society. He argues that, from the world’s perspective, love is often reduced to either a physical desire (“carnal appetite”) or an ephemeral emotion (“vague fancy”). These shallow interpretations of love suggest that it is either based on fleeting physical attraction or a temporary, unstable feeling that fades when possession (the fulfillment of desire) or absence (separation) comes into play. Hugo challenges this view by pointing out that true passion—the kind of love that transcends physicality and temporary emotions—is wrongly dismissed as something that doesn’t endure. He criticizes the societal tendency to equate passion with something that is momentary, rather than recognizing it as a profound, long-lasting force.

Hugo’s words reflect his belief that true love and passion are much deeper and more enduring than commonly understood. While the world may reduce love to fleeting moments or desires, Hugo suggests that genuine passion transcends temporary emotions and survives challenges, remaining constant in the hearts of those who experience it.

In modern terms, this quote speaks to the idea that society often trivializes love and passion, reducing it to temporary or physical attractions rather than seeing it as a profound, transformative force that can endure despite challenges. Hugo reminds us that real love is not bound by circumstance or absence—it is something much deeper, more complex, and lasting. The quote encourages us to rethink the way we view passion, urging us to recognize it not as fleeting, but as a deep emotional connection that has the potential to stand the test of time.


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