Contributed by Tim Brugger, Catalogs.com Top 10 Guru
Music, art, the written word; humans have thrown just about everything under the sun at Love, trying to figure it all out.
Very few have actually come close, but that’s the nature of the beast.
In an effort to quantify the unquantifiable, here are the top ten love quotes.
10. “If you love something …”
I was in a bit of a quandary; on the one hand the quote “if you love something let it go, if it comes back it is yours. If it doesn’t, it never was” is about as old, trite and staid as a quote can get. On the other hand, the one that won out, there’s no denying its almost mythical proportions. I mean, who hasn’t heard this quote? As such, it squeaked into our Top 10. Author: anonymous. Who in their right mind would take credit for that anyway?
9. “I love you, not only …
… for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you.” One of the top drawer love quotes indeed. I particularly like the reference to the impact love has in making us better people; better wives, husbands, mothers, fathers, and pet owners of course. When was the last time a dog was kicked by a ga-ga owner? Yeah, that’s right, never. Author: the mysterious Roy Croft.
8. “Life has taught us that love does not consist …
… in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction.” One thing you’ve got to hand the French, in addition to that runny cheese, is they’ve spent a lot of time and energy thinking about love. This quote is one of many classics from Antoine de Saint-Exupery, a French writer in the early 1900’s.
7. “Love is but the discovery of ourselves …
… in others, and the delight in the recognition.” Sort of the two hearts, one mind concept taken to a much higher level. The French get all the press when it comes to love, but here’s another example of an old Scottish dude laying it down. Alexander Smith came on the heels of Robert Burns, and seems to have carried the white-hot torch nicely.
6. “Love is …
… a many splendored thing.” If it weren’t so darn popular, this wonderful quote would probably end up higher on the list. But, I can’t help but picture a somewhat cheesy crooner (take your choice) belting out this 1955 Academy Award winning tune. Of course, six years as the theme song for an old school soap opera doesn’t help matters much either. But, getting past all that, rarely has a mere six words said so much. The quote doesn’t try and define love so much as give each of us a running start to define it for ourselves. In my book, that’s what make this one of the great love quotes.
5. “In dreams and in love …
… there are no impossibilities.” Short, sweet and to the point, just as a world-class quote should be. The allusion to dreams when the subject of love comes up is nothing new, Arnos just said it better than most.
Author: Hungarian writer, poet, etc. Arnos Jarnay
4. “But to see her was to love her …
… love but her, and love her forever.” Whoa; that’s gooooood. Of course, what else would you expect from Robert Burns? Here we are over 200 years after his passing and still are hard pressed to find a written word to match Rabbie’s. What’s a Rabbie you ask? That’s what his Scottish pals called him back in the day, and since he can’t complain I’m taking this opportunity to pretend we were tight.
3. “I love her …
… and that’s the beginning of everything.” No doubt written for, and about, wife Zelda. Their love affair, and the impact she had on his writing is legendary. Hands down, one of the greatest writers of the 20th century (many would argue beyond that even), F. Scott Fitzgerald was the master. To think he only completed 5 novels in his life, but what an impact. Then he goes and lays a love quote to beat all love quotes like this on us.
2. “The best and most beautiful things …
… in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.” This was Helen Keller’s ode to love before her passing at age 88 in the late 60’s. A fantastic quote no matter how you slice it. Then when you consider the source, it takes on a whole new dimension.
1. “The more I give to thee, the more …
… I have, for both are infinite.” Bill could certainly turn a phrase, and as far as love quotes goes, this one tops the list. Seems to me that’s the way love ought to work, the more you give the more you get. Not quite as slick sounding as William Shakespeare’s version, but then I bet he never made it past the 3rd level of Donkey Kong either, so there.