Love hasn't got anything to do with the heart, the heart's a disgusting organ, a sort of pump full of blood. Love is primarily concerned with the lungs. People shouldn't say she's broken my heart but she's stifled my lungs. Lungs are the most romantic organs: lovers and artists always contract tuberculosis. It's not a coincidence that Chekhov, Kafka, D.H. Lawrence, Chopin, George Orwell and St Thérèse of Lisieux all died of it; as for Camus, Moravia, Boudard and Katherine Mansfield, would they have written the same books if it werent for TB?
The quote challenges conventional notions of love being associated with the heart, suggesting instead that it is more about the lungs. According to the author, love affects our breathing and vitality, making the lungs more symbolic than the heart. The idea that we should speak of love in terms of how it stifles our lungs rather than breaking our hearts presents a fresh perspective on romantic experiences.
By linking love to tuberculosis, the author posits that many celebrated artists and writers who suffered from this illness produced their most profound works due to their experiences with love and loss. These connections highlight how physical afflictions can influence creativity, suggesting that the emotional depth found in their writings may stem from a struggle not just with love but with the very essence of life and existence.
