"I was nauseous and tingly all over. I was either in love or I had smallpox"

In this quote by Woody Allen, the speaker humorously juxtaposes the frustrating sensations of being in love with the symptoms of a serious illness like smallpox. This creative contrast not just serves to generate a chuckle but also provides insight into the chaotic and bewildering nature of intense emotions.

The phrase "I was upset and tingly all over" sets the stage for a double interpretation. Queasiness and a tingling feeling are physical signs that can accompany both love and disease, highlighting the unpredictability and lack of control over our own bodies in such circumstances. Love, much like an illness, can be intense, causing a whirlwind of feelings and physical reactions. This option of words recommends that being in love is an experience that impacts one's entire being, not just emotionally however physically as well.

By contrasting love with smallpox, Allen highlights how love can be both exhilarating and a little frightening. Smallpox, a feared and major health problem, represents something one would naturally want to prevent. In this light, Allen may be hinting that love, although preferable, includes its own set of difficulties and dangers. Just like a disease, love can interrupt one's routine, present unpredictability, and lead to unpredicted repercussions.

In addition, the humor in this quote lies in the absurdity of relating a joyous state like love with a dangerous disease. It plays on the common human propensity to dramatize emotions, depicting love as something so intense that it could quickly be misinterpreted for a malady.

Overall, the quote encapsulates the complex experience of falling in love, combining the happiness and excitement with components of pain and unease. Through wit and exaggeration, Allen effectively conveys the concept that love, with all its excessive impacts, resembles an unstoppable force that can be both bewitching and frustrating.