We fall in love because we long to escape from ourselves with someone as beautiful, intelligent, and witty as we are ugly, stupid, and dull. But what if such a perfect being should one day turn around and decide they will love us back? We can only be somewhat shocked-how can they be as wonderful as we had hoped when they have the bad taste to approve of someone like us?
Alain de BottonIt's clear to me that there is no good reason for many philosophy books to sound as complicated as they do.
Alain de BottonIn Britain, because I live here, I can also run into problems of envy and competition. But all this is just in a day's work for a writer. You can't put stuff out there without someone calling you a complete fool. Oh, well.
Alain de BottonOne rarely falls in love without being as much attracted to what is interestingly wrong with someone as what is objectively healthy.
Alain de Botton.. if you asked most people whether they believed in love or not, theyโd probably say they didnโt. Yet thatโs not necessarily what they truly think. Itโs just the way they defend themselves against what they want. They believe in it, but pretend they donโt until theyโre allowed to. Most people would throw away all their cynicism if they could. The majority just never gets the chance.
Alain de Botton