Meaning: The quote "Today I begin to understand what love must be, if it exists... When we are parted, we each feel the lack of the other half of ourselves. We are incomplete like a book in two volumes of which the first has been lost. That is what I imagine love to be: incompleteness in absence." by Edmond Goncourt, a French writer, reflects a poignant and profound understanding of love. In this quote, Goncourt captures the essence of love as a feeling of incompleteness in the absence of the beloved. The analogy of a book in two volumes, with the first volume lost, beautifully illustrates the sense of longing and incompleteness experienced when separated from a loved one.

Goncourt's contemplation on the nature of love delves into the emotional and psychological impact of being apart from the person one loves. The quote suggests that love is not just a feeling of connection and completeness when together, but also a keen awareness of the absence and yearning for the other when apart. It conveys the idea that love is not just about being whole and fulfilled in the presence of the beloved, but also about feeling a profound sense of incompleteness and longing in their absence.

The comparison of human beings to a book in two volumes, with one volume lost, evokes a sense of loss and yearning. It highlights the idea that when two individuals are apart, they feel like a part of themselves is missing, much like a book missing a crucial part of its narrative. This analogy beautifully encapsulates the emotional and existential impact of separation in love, portraying it as a state of incompleteness and longing.

Goncourt's contemplation on love also hints at the depth of emotional connection and interdependence between individuals in a romantic relationship. The notion that each person feels the lack of the other half of themselves when separated underscores the idea that love involves a profound intertwining of identities and a sense of mutual incompleteness in the absence of the other. This portrayal of love as a state of yearning and longing for completion emphasizes the depth of emotional attachment and dependency that characterizes deep romantic connections.

Furthermore, Goncourt's reflection on love as incompleteness in absence invites contemplation on the universal experience of longing and separation. The quote resonates with anyone who has experienced the ache of missing someone deeply and reflects the universal human experience of yearning for connection and completeness. It speaks to the profound emotional impact of separation and the enduring human desire for unity and wholeness in love.

In conclusion, Edmond Goncourt's quote offers a poignant and evocative insight into the nature of love as a profound sense of incompleteness in absence. Through the analogy of a lost volume in a two-part book, he captures the emotional and existential impact of longing and separation in love, portraying it as a state of yearning and incompleteness. His contemplation on love resonates with the universal human experience of longing for connection and unity, making it a powerful and timeless reflection on the nature of love.