Quote by W.H. Auden

Looking up at the stars, I know quite well That, for all they care, I can go to hell, But on earth indifference is the least We have to dread from man or beast. How should we like it were stars to burn With a passion for us we could not return? If equal affection cannot be, Let the more loving one be me. Admirer as I think I am Of stars that do not give a damn, I cannot, now I see them, say I missed one terribly all day. Were all stars to disappear or die, I should learn to look at an empty sky And feel its total dark sublime, Though this might take me a little time.

Looking up at the stars, I know quite well That, for all the

Summary

In this quote from the poem "The More Loving One" by W.H. Auden, the speaker reflects on the indifference of the stars towards humanity. They contemplate how it would feel if stars were capable of loving humans as passionately as humans often love them. Despite this one-sided affection, the speaker chooses to be the more loving one, accepting their role without bitterness or resentment. The poem raises questions about unrequited love and the nature of relationships, emphasizing the importance of love and affection in a seemingly indifferent world.

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