Quote by Ouida
Is there a more pitiable spectacle than that of a wife contending with others for that charm in her husband's sight which no philters and no prayers can renew when once it has fled forever?Women are so unwise. Love is like a bird's song beautiful and eloquent when heard in forest freedom, harsh and worthless in repetition when sung from behind prison bars.You cannot secure love by vigilance, by environment, by captivity. What use is it to keep the person of a man beside you if his soul be truant from you?
Summary
This quote highlights the futility of a woman trying to win back her husband's affection when it has already been lost. It emphasizes that love is ephemeral and cannot be forced or maintained through manipulation or control. The analogy of a bird's song suggests that love loses its value and becomes monotonous when it is confined or repeated. Instead, the quote suggests that it is useless to physically possess someone if their emotional connection and loyalty are absent. It criticizes women for their lack of wisdom in trying to regain love through effort and external factors rather than recognizing its inherent spontaneity and freedom.
By Ouida