"Amar es batallar, si dos se besan el mundo cambia."
/ah-MAR es bah-tah-YAR, see dohs seh BEH-sahn el MOON-doh KAHM-byah/
To love is to battle; if two people kiss, the world changes.
💡 Understanding the Quote
"Amar es batallar, si dos se besan el mundo cambia."
🎨 Visual Representation
Paz's quote captures love as both a difficult struggle and a world-changing force.
🔑 Key Words
📖 Context
From the long-form poem 'Piedra de sol' ('Sunstone') by Octavio Paz, published in 1957.
📝 In Action
Nuestra relación no siempre es fácil, pero como dijo Paz, 'amar es batallar, si dos se besan el mundo cambia'. Y contigo, mi mundo siempre cambia para mejor.
C1Our relationship isn't always easy, but as Paz said, 'to love is to battle; if two people kiss, the world changes'. And with you, my world always changes for the better.
En su poema, Paz resume la dualidad del amor con la frase 'Amar es batallar...'.
B2In his poem, Paz summarizes the duality of love with the line 'To love is to battle...'.
✍️ About the Author
📜 Historical Context
Written in 1957, 'Piedra de sol' ('Sunstone') is a masterpiece of surrealist poetry. Paz, a Nobel laureate, structured the poem as a single, circular sentence of 584 lines, mirroring the 584-day cycle of Venus in Aztec cosmology. This quote is a jewel within that vast, flowing exploration of love, myth, and time.
🌍 Cultural Significance
This is one of the most celebrated lines in modern Spanish-language poetry. In Mexico, it's a touchstone of national literary pride. The quote is frequently used in wedding vows, romantic art, and philosophical discussions to express a mature, profound view of love's power and complexity.
📚 Literary Analysis
The quote's power comes from its sharp contrast, a literary device called juxtaposition. 'Batallar' (to battle) is a harsh, active word suggesting conflict and effort. This is immediately followed by the transformative intimacy of 'si dos se besan'. The conditional 'si' (if) makes the world-altering change dependent on a simple act of connection, suggesting that love's redemption is found within its very struggles.
⭐ Usage Tips
For Deeply Romantic Moments
This isn't a light or casual quote. Use it to express the profound, challenging, and transformative nature of a serious relationship. It's perfect for anniversaries, deep conversations, or heartfelt letters.
Acknowledge Both Halves
The quote's meaning relies on its two parts. When referencing it, acknowledge both the 'battle' and the 'change'. This shows a sophisticated understanding of love's complexity, not just a simple romantic notion.
🔗 Related Quotes
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: Amar es batallar, si dos se besan el mundo cambia.
Question 1 of 2
Who is the author of the quote 'Amar es batallar, si dos se besan el mundo cambia.'?
🏷️ Categories
Themes:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this quote considered optimistic or pessimistic?
It's both, and that's its genius. It's realistic about the difficulties of love ('batallar') but deeply optimistic about its transformative power. It suggests that the profound beauty of love is earned through struggle, not given freely.
What does 'el mundo cambia' (the world changes) really mean here?
It's not about a literal, physical change to the planet. It's a poetic way of saying that the lovers' perception of reality is altered. The world *feels* different, their personal universe is reordered, and their reality is redefined by their shared connection.