Who said “What is the main thing in love? to know and to hide. To know about the one you love and…”?

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Marina Tsvetaeva. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceThe House at Old Pimen, ch. 2 (1934).

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“What is the main thing in love? to know and to hide. To know about the one you love and to hide that you love. At times the hiding (shame) overpowers the knowing (passion). The passion for the hidden -- the passion for the revealed.”
— Marina Tsvetaeva
VerifiedThe House at Old Pimen, ch. 2 (1934). · evidenceLove
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: The House at Old Pimen, ch. 2 (1934)..

APA

Tsvetaeva, M. (n.d.). What is the main thing in love? to know and to hide. To know about the one you love and to hide that you love. At times the hiding (shame) overpowers the knowing (passion). The passion for the hidden -- the passion for the revealed. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/27538-what-is-the-main-thing-in-love-to/

MLA

Tsvetaeva, Marina. “What is the main thing in love? to know and to hide. To know about the one you love and to hide that you love. At times the hiding (shame) overpowers the knowing (passion). The passion for the hidden -- the passion for the revealed.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/27538-what-is-the-main-thing-in-love-to/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Tsvetaeva, Marina. “What is the main thing in love? to know and to hide. To know about the one you love and to hide that you love. At times the hiding (shame) overpowers the knowing (passion). The passion for the hidden -- the passion for the revealed.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/27538-what-is-the-main-thing-in-love-to/.

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