But perhaps there are in us forces other than mind and heart, other even than the senses - mysterious forces which take hold of us in the moments when the others are asleep; and perhaps it was such forces that Melchior had found in the depths of those pale eyes which had looked at him so timidly one evening when he had accosted the girl on the bank of the river, and had sat down beside her in the reeds - without knowing why - and had given her his hand. Romain Rolland
About This Quote

An interesting quote which has its roots in the poem “Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman. Melchior is referring to the “mysterious forces” that are at work between lovers. Once you are in love, you are not only bound by your thoughts and feelings, Physical attraction can also play a role. When you are in love, your body craves the touch of another human being and will respond to it in ways that you cannot control. Your mind may be occupied with something else but your body will do what it wants when the time comes.

Source: Jean Christophe Vol I

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