[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fmaif_8Z0fEL07SPNGhdZuTfW8KQBfpdZd3UJXAULWyc":3,"$fQOkb0W7jc4Ibcw07K8fx-5xKpVXMgbh4VxLot_Xzc8I":12},{"author":4,"tags":11},{"author_id":5,"author_name":6,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"bio":9,"short_bio":9,"bio_jsonld":9,"slug":10,"image_url":9},56482,"James Merrill","J",22,null,"james-merrill",[],{"quotes":13,"pagination":89},[14,22,28,34,40,46,52,58,70,76],{"id":15,"quote_text":16,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":19,"source":20,"quote_tag":21,"commentary":9},3106681,"Let the mind be, along with countless other things, a landing strip for sacred visitations.",6,false,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":23,"quote_text":24,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":25,"source":26,"quote_tag":27,"commentary":9},3106669,"But those two plays left me on fresh terms with language. I didn’t always have to speak in my own voice.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":29,"quote_text":30,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":31,"source":32,"quote_tag":33,"commentary":9},3106668,"Arthur Young’s Reflexive Universe – fascinating but too schematic to fit into my scheme. The most I could hope for was a sense of the vocabulary and some possible images.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":35,"quote_text":36,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":37,"source":38,"quote_tag":39,"commentary":9},3106658,"And, as I have said, it’s made me think twice about the imagination. If the spirits aren’t external, how astonishing the mediums become! Victor Hugo said of his voices that they were like his own mental powers multiplied by five.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":41,"quote_text":42,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":43,"source":44,"quote_tag":45,"commentary":9},3106657,"At college I’d seen my dead frog’s limbs twitch under some applied stimulus or other – seen, but hadn’t believed. Didn’t dream of thinking beyond or around what I saw.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":47,"quote_text":48,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":49,"source":50,"quote_tag":51,"commentary":9},3106647,"Love buries itself in me, up to the hilt.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":53,"quote_text":54,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":55,"source":56,"quote_tag":57,"commentary":9},3106635,"The day is breaking someone else’s heart.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":59,"quote_text":60,"author_id":5,"source_id":61,"has_image":18,"author":62,"source":63,"quote_tag":64,"commentary":9},2020397,"Strange about parents. We have such easy access to them and such daunting problems of communication.",4,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[65],{"id":66,"tag":67},5007606,{"id":68,"tag_name":69},975,"communication",{"id":71,"quote_text":72,"author_id":5,"source_id":61,"has_image":18,"author":73,"source":74,"quote_tag":75,"commentary":9},2020390,"The day is breaking someone else's heart.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":77,"quote_text":78,"author_id":5,"source_id":61,"has_image":79,"author":80,"source":81,"quote_tag":82,"commentary":88},2020381,"In life, there are no perfect affections.",true,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[83],{"id":84,"tag":85},5007586,{"id":86,"tag_name":87},24,"life","**The Backstory**\n\nJames Merrill, an American poet known for his introspective and lyrical works, is likely the author of this quote. It's difficult to pinpoint a specific origin without more context, but given Merrill's exploration of themes such as love, relationships, and the human condition in his poetry, it's reasonable to assume this line comes from one of his collections or essays. The 1950s and '60s, when Merrill was actively writing, were marked by social change, personal turmoil, and a reevaluation of traditional values, which may have influenced his perspective on love and relationships.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\n\nAt first glance, the quote seems to acknowledge the imperfections that inevitably arise in romantic relationships. However, upon closer examination, it reveals a more profound truth: Merrill is not simply accepting the inevitability of flaws but rather suggesting that \"perfection\" is often an unattainable and even undesirable ideal when it comes to human connections. By stating that there are no perfect affections, he implies that the pursuit of perfection in love can lead to disappointment and disillusionment.\n\n**How to Use This**\n\nTo apply this mindset today, consider adopting a more nuanced approach to relationships by acknowledging and embracing their inherent imperfections rather than striving for an unattainable ideal. By doing so, you may find yourself more grounded and realistic in your expectations, leading to deeper connections with others and a greater appreciation for the complexities of human love.",{"currentPage":90,"totalPages":91,"totalItems":8,"itemsPerPage":92},1,3,10]