quests, failure, desire
Reflecting on the history of Romanticism should be consoling because it suggests that quite a lot of the troubles we have with relationships don’t stem (as we normally, guiltily, end up thinking) from our ineptitude, our inadequacy or our regrettable choice of partners. Knowing the history invites another, more useful idea: we were set an incredibl
... See moreAlain De Botton • The School of Life: An Emotional Education
Today we are looking for someone who accepts us as we are and fulfills our desires, and this creates an unrealistic set of expectations that frustrates both the searchers and the searched for.
Timothy Keller • The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God
It’s the fact that we want something to work that makes our relationships so unsatisfactory.
Charlotte J. Beck • Everyday Zen: Love and Work (Plus)
"We want something that’s very passionate, or boiling, from the get-go. In the past, people weren’t looking for something boiling; they just needed some water. Once they found it and committed to a life together, they did their best to heat things up. Now, if things aren’t boiling, committing to marriage seems premature. But searching for a soul ma... See more