“He became so gloomy that she asked him, at last, if he was worried about anything. He assured her, instantly, that he was the happiest man in the world. And he was. At times he was almost bewildered by his own bliss in being there, with Tony, so terribly dear, beside him; really his own for the rest of his life. It was not her fault if the insatiable sorrows of an unequal love tormented him, the hungry demand for more, for a fuller return, for a feeling which it was not in her nature to give. As she leaned forward, absorbed in the passions staged beneath her, he felt suddenly that their box contained just himself and a wraith, a ghost; as if the real Antonia, whom he loved, was an imagined woman living only in his sad fancy.” RomancePassionHeartbreakUnreciprocated LoveUnrequired LoveUnequal LoveThe Constant NymphUnequal DesireUnreciprocated Desire Book:The Constant Nymph Source: The Constant Nymph
“When they got to their hotel she went straight up to bed, but he paused to get a drink. There was, in the vestibule, a flower stall and he bought a handful of roses, stiffly wired into a bouquet, before proceeding to the oppressive gorgeousness of their bridal suite. The lift was lined with looking glass, so that as he shot upwards he got an endlessly duplicated version of himself, stout and nervous, a light cloak flung over his shoulder and flowers in his hand: an infinitely long row of gentlemen carrying offerings to an unforgiving past.” LoveRomanceRelationshipsEmotionSelf EsteemHeartbreakReflectionSelf AwarenessNervousShyFlowersBody ImageScrutinyPersonalNervousnessReflectiveSelf AwareSelf Observation Author:Margaret Kennedy
“Having renounced his native land, Sanger adopted no other. He roved about from one European capital to another, never settling anywhere for long, driven forwards by his strange, restless fancy. Usually he quartered himself upon his friends, who were accustomed to endure a great deal from him. He would stay with them for weeks, composing third acts in their spare bedrooms, producing operas which always failed financially, falling in love with their wives, conducting their symphonies, and borrowing money from hem. His preposterous family generally accompanied him. Few people could recollect quite how many children Sanger was supposed to have got, but there always seemed to be a good many and they were most shockingly brought up.” ComposerSymphoniesOperas Book:The Constant Nymph Source: The Constant Nymph
“Patience is the capacity to endure all that is necessary in attaining a desired end. ... Patience never forsakes the ultimate goal because the road is hard. There can be no patience without an object.” EndsHardGoalObjectsCapacityUltimatePatienceEndureUltimate GoalForsakeNo Patience Author:Margaret Kennedy
“... acquired tastes are the mark of the man of leisure.” MenHe ManTasteMarkLeisureAcquired Taste Book:Ladies of Lyndon Source: Ladies of Lyndon
“It's no use to worry about what people think. I never do. I used to. But when I saw that they'd really rather think wrong than right I gave it up.” PeopleThinkingUseUsedWorrySaws Book:Ladies of Lyndon Source: Ladies of Lyndon
“They are emotional gluttons, both of them. They gobbled up every sensation they could extract from marriage, and now they are seeing if separation won't provide them with a few more.” IfsSeeingEmotionalSeparationSensations Book:Lucy Carmichael Source: Lucy Carmichael
“It is better to break one's heart than to do nothing with it.” LoveHeartBreakRomantic Love Book:The Midas Touch Source: The Midas Touch