Quotes by Lou Andreas-Salomé

“If you have no more happiness to give:Give me your pain.””

“Whoever reaches into a rosebush may seize a handful of flowers; but no matter how many one holds, it's only a small portion of the whole. Nevertheless, a handful is enough to experience the nature of the flowers. Only if we refuse to reach into the bush, because we can't possibly seize all the flowers at once, or if we spread out our handful of roses as if it were the whole of the bush itself -- only then does it bloom apart from us, unknown to us, and we are left alone.””

“What does not engage our feelings does not long engage our thoughts either.””

“The optimistic nature finds joy in the very feeling for life; the pessimistic nature finds a feeling for life only in joy.””

“Who can escape when in your grip,When your dark eyes confront one?I do not wish to flee when you seize me,I never shall believe that you only destroy.I know that you must course through everyone's lifeand nothing earthbound stays untouched by you,Though life without you would be beautiful!And yet, it is worthwhile to experience you.Indeed, you are not a night's phantom;You come to remind the spirit of its strength:It's the battle that has made the greatest persons great-on rugged roads towards the goal.For that, and happiness and joy,give me only one thing;pain which lends true greatness.So, come and let us wrestle breast to breast;do come, even if it means life or death.Do come and lip into the heart's deepest interiorand rummage through the depths of life.Take away dream's illusion and joy;take away things not worth one's unlimited strivings.You are not mankind's final conqueror.Although we expose our breast to your blowsand although we collapse in death,you are the pedestal for our soul's greatness.””