Ah, one of my favorite quotes, most often abbreviated to “hell hath no fury like a woman scorned”:
“Heaven hath no rage like love to hatred turned, nor hell a fury like a woman scorned.” — William Congreve, The Mourning Bride
That shortened form keeps part of the original thought intact, but it overlooks another important idea: there is no one we despise more than the one we once loved the most.
Something every divorce attorney knows, and the best make a fine living on that understanding. The rest of us can learn from it, too. Why do I hate him so much? He shouldn’t have this hold on me anymore.
Because the pendulum has swung. Once upon a time, you would have jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge for him. Now, you want to push him off it.
There’s good news about pendulums. They swing to one extreme, and then to another. Then the arc of the swing is smaller, until finally, there’s no more momentum. Unless, of course, something happens to start the swing all over again.
We’ve all seen that happen, and if you pay attention, it usually happens while the pendulum still has a pretty good arc. Once it’s stopped, it’s hard to start things up again.
A thought that has application both for you who dream of the day the passion will end and you who dream of the day it will begin again with the one who’s got the power over your pendulum.
Image Credit: ©blobbotronic — fotolia.com
My World With Words 
Good quote choice. Thoughtful rendition!
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Thank you!
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Great post! You really have a way with words.
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Thank you — that’s very nice to hear 🙂
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Wow. Love the quote and I like the pendelum-centric post too! It’s creatively written. 😀
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Thanks so much! 🙂
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You’re so welcome! 😀
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Very strong quote and well said too!
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Thank you. Ever since I heard the full quote I’ve felt the same way — it is powerful, and incredibly true!
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Very, very true. You are welcome 🙂
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Great quote! Such a fine line between love and hate!
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In many ways it comes from the same place!
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I’m embarrassed to say I had no idea there was an unabbreviated version of “hell hath no fury…” I love this original, it says so much more about human emotion. I always thought the shortened version was a little sexist, as if women were somehow more rage-filled or evil when rejected. It feels somehow much less insulting in it’s original form, but no less powerful.
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I’m with you. I had no idea there was more to the quote until I chanced on the entire thing a few years ago, and I don’t think most people are aware of it. I’d really like to read the entire play to know the context. Put that on my goals for the coming year!
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This is so true. Relationships take so much work and if you don’t try to keep the love alive, the momentum does die. Thanks for writing it.
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Love this quote. Very inspiring. Thanks!
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Great post – I’ve always liked that quote too, and now I’ll always think of your pendulum in connection with it!
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