I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you in this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you, so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate that when I fall asleep your eyes close.

Pablo Neruda quote explanation

This beautiful and expressive quote is often attributed to Pablo Neruda, a Chilean poet and Nobel laureate in literature. In this quote, Neruda captures the essence of profound and unconditional love. Let’s break down the key elements of the quote:

1. “I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where”: This part expresses a love that is not bound by rational understanding or logical parameters. It’s a love that exists without needing to analyze or quantify it. The emphasis is on the mysterious and unexplainable nature of deep affection.
2. “I love you simply, without problems or pride”: Here, Neruda conveys the simplicity and purity of the love he describes. It’s a love free from complications, conflicts, or ego-driven concerns. The absence of “problems or pride” suggests a love unencumbered by external issues or personal vanity.
3. “I love you in this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this”: This line underscores the authenticity and singularity of the speaker’s love. It’s a declaration that this particular way of loving, with all its depth and intimacy, is the only way the speaker knows how to express love.
4. “in which there is no I or you”: This phrase emphasizes the dissolution of individual boundaries in the intensity of the love described. The distinction between the lover (“I”) and the beloved (“you”) disappears, suggesting a profound sense of unity and interconnectedness.
5. “so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate that when I fall asleep your eyes close”: These lines paint vivid images of the physical and emotional closeness between the speaker and the beloved. The physical touch and the shared experience of falling asleep create a sense of complete unity and intimacy.

In essence, Pablo Neruda’s quote beautifully captures the depth, simplicity, and transcendence of true, unconditional love. It goes beyond the ordinary and speaks to a love that is all-encompassing, where the boundaries between individuals dissolve, and a profound connection is formed on both emotional and physical levels.