Absence cools moderate passions, and inflames violent ones.

Separation may weaken a mild attachment. Without regular contact, a feeling that was never especially strong can lose its urgency and gradually fade.

An intense attachment may respond in the opposite way. Being apart can heighten longing, making the feeling more powerful rather than diminishing it.

Use the proverb when considering how time apart might affect a relationship or strong feeling. It contrasts a passing attraction that fades with a deeper longing that grows during separation; it does not predict the same outcome for everyone.