Alain de Botton The Course of Love Quotes, born December 20, 1969, in Zurich, Switzerland, is a British-Swiss philosopher and author known for his accessible explorations of human emotions and relationships. His novel The Course of Love (2016) delves into the realities of a long-term romantic relationship, following a couple through love, marriage, and parenthood with philosophical insight and emotional depth. Blending narrative with reflections on intimacy, vulnerability, and growth, de Botton challenges idealized notions of love. These 15 quotes—sourced from The Course of Love—capture his thoughts on love, marriage, compromise, and the beauty of imperfect relationships, infused with his empathetic and introspective style.
15 Alain de Botton The Course of Love Quotes
- “Intimacy is the capacity to be rather weird with someone—and finding that that’s ok with them.” (The Course of Love, 2016)
- “We don’t need to be constantly reasonable in order to have good relationships; all we need to have mastered is the occasional capacity to acknowledge with good grace that we may, in one or two areas, be somewhat insane.” (The Course of Love, 2016)
- “The partner truly best suited to us is not the one who miraculously happens to share every taste, but the one who can negotiate differences in taste with intelligence and grace.” (The Course of Love, 2016)
- “Maturity begins with the capacity to sense and, in good time and without defensiveness, admit to our own craziness.” (The Course of Love, 2016)
- “A good marriage is one where both partners quietly agree to tolerate each other’s imperfections for the sake of something greater.” (The Course of Love, 2016)
- “In marriage, love means having to say sorry a lot, not because you’re always wrong, but because you value the relationship more than your ego.” (The Course of Love, 2016)
- “Love in marriage is less about passion and more about the patient art of understanding someone else’s flaws.” (The Course of Love, 2016)
- “In a marriage, you don’t solve problems once and for all; you learn to live with them gracefully.” (The Course of Love, 2016)
- “Marriage is a courageous act of optimism, a belief that two flawed people can build something enduring together.” (The Course of Love, 2016)
- “The fantasy of marriage is that it will fix us; the reality is that it reveals us, and asks us to grow.” (The Course of Love, 2016)
- “Marriage thrives on the ability to forgive, not because we are saints, but because we are all flawed.” (The Course of Love, 2016)
- “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.” (The Course of Love, 2016)
- “In a good marriage, both partners accept that they are, at times, difficult to live with—and that’s okay.” (The Course of Love, 2016)
- “Marriage is a school for emotional education, where we learn to love not just the best in each other, but the entirety.” (The Course of Love, 2016)
- “Love is not just admiration for strength but tenderness for fragility.” (The Course of Love, 2016)
Alain de Botton’s quotes from The Course of Love are a poignant and realistic celebration of love’s challenges and rewards, inspiring readers to embrace imperfection, practice forgiveness, and grow through commitment. Which quote speaks to your experience of love? Share it below and keep de Botton’s heartfelt wisdom 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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