The hours I spend with you I look upon as sort of a perfumed

"The hours I spend with you I look upon as sort of a perfumed garden, a dim twilight, and a fountain singing to it. You and you alone make me feel that I am alive. Other men it is said have seen angels, but I have seen thee and thou art enough." These evocative words by George Edward Moore express a profound and timeless truth about the transformative power of love and connection. In this tender reflection, Moore conveys that in the presence of the beloved, there is a deep, life-affirming experience—one that transcends the mundane and touches something higher, something divine. The beauty of this love is not only in the emotions it evokes but in the sense of vitality it imparts, making the speaker feel fully alive in a way that mere existence cannot.

Moore compares the time spent with his beloved to a perfumed garden, a twilight where shadows and light intermingle in delicate balance, and a fountain singing in the silence of the soul. These images are all rich with sensory beauty and spiritual depth, emphasizing that in the presence of love, every moment is filled with meaning and joy. To Moore, the love of another is not just a fleeting emotional experience; it is something that transforms time itself, elevating the everyday into the realm of the sacred and the eternal. Love becomes not just a feeling but an entire world, one where every moment spent with the other becomes a blessing—a manifestation of life itself.

The ancients, too, recognized the power of love to make one feel alive. In Homer's Iliad, the love between Achilles and Patroclus becomes the defining force of Achilles' life. The grief Achilles feels after the death of his beloved friend is not simply sorrow; it is a deep agony that underscores the life-altering nature of love. Achilles is transformed by his connection to Patroclus, as Moore is transformed by the presence of the one he loves. The love shared between these two figures is not merely an attachment, but a force that shapes their very existence. It makes them whole, in a way that no other bond can. Moore’s words echo this same sentiment: in the company of a truly beloved one, life takes on a greater meaning, one that no external experience could replicate.

Moreover, Plato, in his writings, particularly in the Symposium, contemplates the nature of love, or Eros, as a powerful force that can bring individuals closer to the divine. Eros, for Plato, was not simply an earthly desire but a spiritual yearning that connected the human soul to the higher realms of beauty and truth. When Moore speaks of “angels”, he alludes to this same divine quality of love—a love that, while human, feels almost transcendent, capable of touching the divine. His beloved, in a sense, becomes the embodiment of divinity itself, making the need for angels irrelevant. The experience of love in its most profound form provides everything that the soul desires, a connection to the divine without the need for external symbols or visions.

In this quote, Moore also implies that the presence of the beloved is enough—a complete fulfillment of all the yearnings of the soul. This recalls the story of Dante Alighieri and his beloved Beatrice. In his Divine Comedy, Dante’s love for Beatrice is not only the catalyst for his spiritual journey through the realms of Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven, but also the embodiment of divine truth and beauty. Beatrice’s presence is so transformative for Dante that he is able to experience glimpses of the divine realm while still alive. Just as Dante found his salvation in the presence of his beloved, Moore’s words suggest that the beloved’s love alone is enough to make the speaker feel whole, complete, and alive—in a way that nothing else in the world could.

The lesson that Moore imparts is one of gratitude and recognition for the transformative power of love. In our often disconnected world, we might overlook the power of human connection, believing that we must look outward to external achievements or material possessions for fulfillment. However, Moore’s words remind us that the deepest source of meaning and joy comes not from external things, but from the love and connection we share with others. Love has the power to infuse every moment with vibrancy, to transform the mundane into something sacred, and to make us feel alive in a way nothing else can.

In practical terms, Moore’s reflection calls us to cherish the relationships we hold dear and to recognize the extraordinary power of human connection. When we are blessed with love, we should not take it for granted or look elsewhere for fulfillment. Instead, we must cultivate gratitude for the people who fill our lives with meaning, who make us feel whole and alive. Let us invest time and energy into our relationships, recognizing that they are the true sources of joy and purpose. Just as Moore found his soul’s sustenance in the presence of his beloved, we too can find a deeper connection to the world by embracing those who bring light and love into our lives.

Thus, Moore’s words serve as both a celebration and a reminder: love, in its purest form, is a force that transcends all, offering fulfillment that is not only emotional but spiritual, connecting us to something greater than ourselves. It is through love that we find the meaning of our existence, and through our love for others, we find the power to feel alive. Let us cherish and nurture the love we have, for it is in those connections that we find the true essence of life itself.