there would be no powerful will binding hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow creatureAnd yet she had loved him- sometimes. Often she had not. What did it matter! What could love, the unsolved mystery, count for in the face of this possession of self-assertion which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being.

Summary

This quote explores the idea that there is no external force or expectation strong enough to control an individual's will, especially when it comes to imposing their own desires onto someone else. The speaker reflects on a past love, admitting to the fluctuating nature of their feelings. However, they highlight the importance of self-assertion, realizing that this innate impulse within themselves surpasses even the mysteries of love. This quote suggests that the freedom to express one's own desires and have control over their own life outweighs the unpredictable nature of love and the notion that others can impose their will upon them.

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