Love is only one fine star away. Stevie Nicks
The love that moves the sun and the other stars. Dante Alighieri
O moon, tell me,
Is constant love deemed there but want of wit?
Are beauties there as proud as here they be?
Do they above love to be loved, and yet
These lovers scorn whom that love doth possess?
Do they call virtue there ungratefulness? Philip Sidney, Astrophel and Stella, 1591
It may be important to great thinkers to examine the world, to explain and despise it. But I think it is only important to love the world, not to despise it, not for us to hate each other, but to be able to regard the world and ourselves and all beings with love, admiration and respect. Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha
Man’s love is of man’s life a thing apart,
’Tis woman’s whole existence. Lord Byron, Don Juan
Alas! the love of women! it is known
To be a lovely and a fearful thing! ibid.
In her first passion woman loves her lover,
In all the others all she loves is love. ibid.
Absence – that common cure of love. Lord Byron
Do you know what it means to come home at night to a woman who’ll give you a little love, a little affection, a little tenderness? It means you’re in the wrong house, that’s what it means. Henny Youngman
Nothing on this planet can compare with a woman’s love – it is kind and compassionate, patient and nurturing, generous and sweet and unconditional. Pure. If you are her man, she will walk on water and through a mountain for you, too, no matter how you’ve acted out, no matter what crazy thing you’ve done, no matter the time or demand. Steve Harvey
Live through deeds of love, and let others live with tolerance for their unique intentions. Rudolf Steiner, Philosophy of Freedom
Erotic longing is really a longing to merge with something greater than oneself. For every kind of love is a force that holds the promise of taking us beyond the limitations of our individual lives. Julianne Davidow
Is love possible? Is freedom possible? Is the truth possible? Is it possible to be one’s actual self with another human being? Is it possible to be a human being any more? Is it possible to be a person? Do persons even exist? R D Laing, psychiatrist
‘What a silly thing love is!’ said the student as he walked away. ‘It is not half as useful as logic, for it does not prove anything, and it is always telling one of things that are not going to happen, and making one believe things that are not true. In fact, it is quite unpractical, and, as in this age to be practical is everything, I shall go back to philosophy and study metaphysics.’
So he returned to his room and pulled out a great dusty book, and began to read. Oscar Wilde
Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead. Oscar Wilde
To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance. Oscar Wilde
Love I should warn you is like a Christmas cracker – one massively disappointing bang and the novelty soon wears off. Blackadder’s Christmas Carol starring Rowan Atkinson & Tony Robinson & Mariam Margoyles & Jim Broadbent & Robbie Coltrane & Miranda Richardson & Stephen Fry et al, director Richard Boden, Ebeneezer to goddaughter, BBC 1988
Fear is stronger than love, remember that. Fear is stronger than love. All that love I gave didn’t mean nothing when it came to fear. Tupac Shakur
There is nothing more truly artistic than to love people. Vincent van Gogh
It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whoseover loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love, is well done. Vincent van Gogh, letter to brother
You have never loved anyone but yourself. David and Bathsheba 1951 starring Gregory Peck & Susan Hayward & James Robinson Justice & Jayne Meadows & Raymond Massey & Kieron Moore et al, director Henry King, David’s wife
See how love and murder will out. William Congreve, 1670-1729, The Double Dealer
Say what you will, ’tis better to be left than never to have loved been loved. William Congreve, The Way of the World
Beauty is a lover’s gift. ibid.
I love you. I’m in love with you. The Sopranos s1e6: Pax Soprana starring James Gandolfini & Lorriane Bracco & Edie Falco & Michael Imperioli & Dominic Chianese & Steven van Zandt & Tony Sirico & Robert Iler et al, Tony to Dr Melfi, HBO 1999
The last year I have been dreaming and fantasising and in love with Furio. The Sopranos s4e13: Whitecap, Carmela to Tony
Is it, in heav’n, a crime to love too well? Alexander Pope, Elegy to the Memory of an Unfortunate Lady, 1717
Oh happy state! when souls each other draw,
When love is liberty, and nature, law:
And then is full, possessing, and possessed,
No craving void left aching in the breast. Alexander Pope, Eloisa to Abelard, 1717
Of all affliction taught a love yet,
’Tis sure the hardest science to forget! ibid.
For when success a lover’s toil attends,
Few ask, if fraud or force attain’d his ends. Alexander Pope
All’s fair in love and war. Early 17th century proverb
The course of true love never did run smooth. Late 16th century proverb
Love is blind. Late 14th century proverb
Don’t worry, nobody’s ever loved me yet. Barfly 1987 starring Mickey Rourke & Faye Dunaway & Alice Krige & J C Quinn & Frank Stallone & Jack Nance & Sandy Martin et al, director Barbet Schroeder, Rourke
This is about power not love. Troy 2004 starring Brad Pitt & Eric Bana & Orlando Bloom & Rose Byrne & Peter O’Toole & Diane Kruger & Brian Cox & Sean Bean & Julie Christie & Saffron Burrows et al, director Wolfgang Petersen, Hector to Helen
We really stuck the knife in her, didn’t we, Bert? Oh we really gave it to her good. Then we twisted it, didn’t we, Bert? ... I loved her Bert. I traded her in a pool game. The Hustler 1961 starring Paul Newman & Jackie Gleason & Piper Laurie & George C Scott & Myron McCormick & Murray Hamilton & Stefan Gierasch et al, director Robert Rossen
I ain’t much of a lover boy. Bonnie & Clyde 1967 starring Warren Beatty & Faye Dunaway & Michael J Pollard & Gene Hackman & Estelle Parsons & Denver Pyle & Dub Taylor & Gene Wilder & Evans Evans & Mabel Cavitt et al, director Arthur Penn, him to her
Oh, Tommy, I could love ya to death. Public Enemy 1931 starring James Cagney & Jean Harlow & Edward Woods & Joan Blondell & Donald Cook & Leslie Fenton & Beryl Mercer & Robert Emmett O'Connor et al, director William A Wellman, her to him
Love is watching what you want to watch on the tele. 44 Inch Chest 2009 starring Ray Winstone & Ian McShane & John Hurt & Tom Wilkinson & Stephen Dillane & Joanne Whalley & Melvil Poupaud & Edna Dore et al, director Malcolm Venville, Colin to victim
Love is the hardest thing in the world to write about. The Lost Weekend 1945 starring Ray Milland & Jane Wyman & Phillip Terry & Howard Da Silva & Doris Dowling & Frank Faylen & Mary Young & Anita Sharp-Bolster & Lilian Fontaine et al, director Billy Wilder, Don to Nat
I sure messed everything up real good, ain’t I? I wanted you back. Because I love you. Gunfight at the OK Corral 1957 starring Burt Lancaster & Kirk Douglas & Dennis Hopper & Rhonda Fleming & Jo van Fleet & John Ireland & Lyle Bettger & Frank Faylen & Earl Holliman & Ted de Corsia & Whit Bissell et al, director John Sturgess, her to him