University of Virginia Library

Love

Someone has written "I
never let schooling interfere
with my education," and
signed it Samuel Clemens.
Someone else wrote nearby, "I
never let learning interfere with
my ignorance," and signed it
with the name of a University
Housing Office official.

Graffitists are well known
for their views on sex and love.
More than a third of carrel
graffiti deals with those topics.

Although there are a good
number of what could mildly
be termed unprintable
abominations beyond the most
lurid imaginations, the hopeless
romantics are represented too.
"Love is eternal bliss." "Love
is a many splendid thing."

"Man's ability to love is
exceeded only by his
unwillingness to do so."

"Oaths of love make
perjurers of us all".

"How can you love another
if you don't love yourself,"
drew the reply of "I love me."
Not content to let things
remain so, the first writer
echoed "He who loves himself
has a fool for a lover."

Erich Segal is remembered.
"Love means never having to
be horny." Also, "The pill
means never having to say your
sorry."

"Lust is all," commented a
non-romantic.

"Can anyone satisfy my
need?" was answered by "Yes,
a psychoanalyst."

"Virginity is like a bubble
on the sea of life–one prick
and its gone."

"Love is an invalid
concept."

A number of people are
mentioned by name, usually
with a telephone number.
These are by and large vicious
graffiti. But not all such use of
names is insulting. The name
"Sheri" appears in many
places, always without
comment, always in the same
neat handwriting, in a simple
tribute to some unknown love.
Likewise, the almost child-like
innocence of "I love Sally" is
clear.

A large number of walls
have the inscription,
"Surrender, Dorothy!" It is
safe to say that the aggressor
there lost. On one wall alone
the answer is written.
"NEVER."

But one type of graffiti
occurs more often than
sex-love graffiti. It is the
philosophical-social
commentary variety, in which
valiant efforts at profundities
are essayed. "One seventh of
your life is spent on Mondays."
"The difference between
graffiti and philosophy is the
word F–."

To "Never fear that your
life should end; rather that it
should not begin," someone
replied "or that it should be
spent in writing cosmic
homilies."

For those who are down
and out, "When in disfavor in
fortune and men's eyes, come
to me. I will spit on you."

"On the count of three,
everyone go to the next level
of consciousness."

"If all men were brothers,
would you want one to marry
your sister?"

"If you stop to think about
it, most of the things about
U.Va. and most of the people
here are sick." The next line, in
different handwriting, read
"Please make use of the bags in
the seat in front of you."

"Wait for me. I was here. I'll
be back–Godot."

"Reality is everyone's
anathema."

"Is reality this messed up or
is it only you?"