Expert: Jan Greenberg - 10/25/2009

Question
Hello. In  an answer a number of months ago, you did not mention where a quote spoke by Hawkeye had come from in literature. After Hawkeye says ‘your eyes have shot their arrows into my heart’ I believe Kyong Soon say's, you have read.…… Your answer below to refresh your memory. Thank you.
"Hi Karen,

Sorry it's taken so long to answer.  I've been out of town.  This is one of the serious episodes M*A*S*H gets criticized for, but it is a great one.  Hawkeye & Kyong Soon both say they are touched by the other one for various reasons, but the line that they exchange is "...your eyes have shot their arrows into my heart"."  

Answer
Hi Joan,

The episode you're talking about is "In Love & War" from season 6.  There are actually 2 quotes from different people.

When Kyong Soon talks about "...you have read..." she's talking about the quote "one is only as happy or unhappy as one imagines" which is from a poem by the French author Francois de La Rochefoucaud.

The quote "...and your eyes have shot their arrows into my heart..." is credited to Dante.

Hope this helps.

Jan