Alain de Botton Essays in Love Quotes, born December 20, 1969, in Zurich, Switzerland, is a British-Swiss philosopher and author known for his accessible and introspective approach to philosophy. His debut novel, Essays in Love (1993, published in the U.S. as On Love), explores the emotional intricacies of a romantic relationship through a blend of narrative and philosophical reflection. Drawing on personal experience and thinkers like Stendhal and Proust, de Botton dissects love’s joys, anxieties, and contradictions. These 15 quotes—sourced from Essays in Love—capture his insights on love, desire, vulnerability, and the human heart, infused with his witty and poignant style.
15 Alain de Botton Essays in Love Quotes
- “We are all more intelligent than we are capable, and awareness of the insanity of love has never saved anyone from the disease.” (Essays in Love, 1993)
- “Perhaps it is true that we do not really exist until there is someone there to see us existing, we cannot properly speak until there is someone who can understand what we are saying, in essence, we are not wholly alive until we are loved.” (Essays in Love, 1993)
- “One of the best protections against disappointment is to have a lot going on.” (Essays in Love, 1993)
- “To be loved by someone is to realize how much they share the same needs that lie at the heart of our own attraction to them.” (Essays in Love, 1993)
- “Love reaches a pitch at those moments when our beloved turns out to know, just like us, about the moon, about the inconstancy of the human heart.” (Essays in Love, 1993)
- “The more familiar two people become, the more the language they speak together departs from that of the ordinary, dictionary-defined discourse.” (Essays in Love, 1993)
- “Every fall into love involves the triumph of hope over self-knowledge.” (Essays in Love, 1993)
- “We fall in love because we long to escape from ourselves with someone as ideal as we are corrupt.” (Essays in Love, 1993)
- “The telephone becomes an instrument of torture in the demonic hands of a beloved who doesn’t call.” (Essays in Love, 1993)
- “It seemed an advantage to be traveled so much in advance of one’s feelings, to have worked out a response to a situation before it had occurred.” (Essays in Love, 1993)
- “There is a yearning in all lovers to believe that their love is not just a private affair, but a universal truth.” (Essays in Love, 1993)
- “Love is a tax we willingly pay for the privilege of feeling alive.” (Essays in Love, 1993)
- “The most attractive are not those who allow us to kiss them at once, but those who coyly lead us into a dance of hesitation.” (Essays in Love, 1993)
- “To love someone is to grant them the power to hurt us, and to accept that risk as the price of intimacy.” (Essays in Love, 1993)
- “We are not so different in love: we all want to be understood, and we all fear being misunderstood.” (Essays in Love, 1993)
Alain de Botton’s quotes from Essays in Love are a tender and incisive exploration of love’s complexities, inspiring readers to embrace its risks, revel in its joys, and accept its inevitable pains. Which quote captures your experience of love? Share it below and keep de Botton’s heartfelt philosophy thriving!
Emma Thompson
Hi, I'm Emma Thompson, founder of MyLittleDesire. I share relationship advice, love quotes, and thoughtful gift ideas to help you express your feelings and strengthen your bonds. Let's celebrate love together!
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