When one is in love, one always begins by deceiving oneself; and one always ends by deceiving others. That is what the world calls a romance.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet
Writers of novels and romances in general bring a double loss on their readers, — they rob them both of their time and money; representing men, manners, and things, that never have been, nor are likely to be; either confounding or perverting history and truth, inflating the mind, or committing violence upon the understanding.
—Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689–1762) English Aristocrat, Poet, Novelist, Writer
One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life; that word is love.
—Sophocles (495–405 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen nor even touched, but just felt in the heart.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
We find rest in those we love, and we provide a resting place in ourselves for those who love us.
—Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153) French Catholic Religious Leader
Love must not touch the marrow of the soul. Our affections must be breakable chains that we can cast them off or tighten them.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
The most precious possession that ever comes to a man in this world is a woman’s heart.
—Josiah Gilbert Holland (1819–81) American Novelist, Poet
Your slightest look easily will unclose me, though I have closed myself as fingers, you open petal by petal myself a Spring opens her first rose.
—e. e. cummings (1894–1962) American Children’s Books Writer, Poet, Artist
Presence is more than just being there.
—Malcolm Forbes (1919–90) American Publisher
The more a man knows, the more he forgives.
—Catherine II of Russia (1729–96) Russian Empress
There is a land of the living and a land of the dead and the bridge is love, the only survival, the only meaning.
—Thornton Wilder (1897–1975) American Novelist, Playwright
Luck is always waiting for something to turn up. Labor, with keen eyes and strong will, always turns up something. Luck lies in bed and wishes the postman will bring news of a legacy. Labor turns out at six o’clock and with busy pen or ringing hammer, lays the foundation of a competence. Luck whines. Labor whistles. Luck relies on chance, labor on character.
—Richard Cobden
The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him with his friendship.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
The world is no longer a romantic place. Some of its people still are however, and therein lies the promise. Don’t let the world win.
—John Cage (1912–92) American Composer, Philosopher, Poet, Artist
Love and desire are the spirit’s wings to great deeds.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,
And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Treading the soil of the moon, palpating its pebbles, tasting the panic and splendor of the event, feeling in the pit of one’s stomach the separation from terra… these form the most romantic sensation an explorer has ever known… this is the only thing I can say about the matter. The utilitarian results do not interest me.
—Vladimir Nabokov (1899–1977) Russian-born American Novelist
Love stories are only fit for the solace of people in the insanity of puberty. No healthy adult human being can really care whether so-and-so does or does not succeed in satisfying his physiological uneasiness by the aid of some particular person or not.
—Aleister Crowley (1875–1947) English Occultist, Mystic, Magician
There is no end. There is no beginning. There is only the infinite passion of life.
—Federico Fellini (1920–93) Italian Filmmaker
The greatest obstacle to discovering the shape of the earth, the continents and the ocean was not ignorance but the illusion of knowledge.
—Daniel J. Boorstin (1914–2004) American Historian, Academic, Attorney, Writer
Romance like a ghost escapes touching; it is always where you are not, not where you are. The interview or conversation was prose at the time, but it is poetry in the memory.
—George William Curtis (1824–92) American Essayist, Public Speaker, Editor, Author
Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction.
—Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900–44) French Novelist, Aviator
Rings and jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts. The only gift is a portion of thyself.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Only passions, great passions, can elevate the soul to great things.
—Denis Diderot (1713–84) French Philosopher, Critic, Writer
The only reward of virtue is virtue; the only way to have a friend is to be one.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Love is the whole and more than all.
—e. e. cummings (1894–1962) American Children’s Books Writer, Poet, Artist
I love you, and because I love you, I would sooner have you hate me for telling you the truth than adore me for telling you lies.
—Pietro Aretino (1492–1556) Italian Author, Playwright, Poet, Satirist
Love is like a friendship caught on fire. In the beginning a flame, very pretty,
Often hot and fierce, But still only light and flickering. As love grows older, Our hearts mature And our love becomes as coals, Deep-burning and unquenchable.
—Bruce Lee (1940–73) Hong-Kong-born American Sportsperson, Actor, Philosopher, Film Director, Screenwriter
Absence lessens half-hearted passions, and increases great ones, as the wind puts out candles and yet stirs up the fire.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld
To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.
—Bessie Anderson Stanley American Poet
Nobody has ever measured, even the poets, how much a heart can hold.
—Zelda Fitzgerald (1900–48) American Novelist
Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
To a person in love, the value of the individual is intuitively known. Love needs no logic for its mission.
—Charles Lindbergh (1902–74) American Aviator, Inventor, Conservationist
Some people come into our lives and quickly go.
Some people move our souls to dance.
They awaken us to new understanding with the passing whisper of their wisdom.
Some people make the sky more beautiful to gaze upon.
They stay in our lives for awhile, leave footprints on our hearts, nd we are never ever the same.
—Flavia Weedn
Where love is concerned, too much is not even enough.
—Pierre Beaumarchais (1732–99) French Inventor, Diplomat, Musician, Fugitive, Revolutionary
Youth cannot imagine romance apart from youth.
—Booth Tarkington (1869–1946) American Novelist, Dramatist
Who, being loved, is poor?
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet