Full Idea
Because men consider themselves to be free, they have a greater love or hate toward one another than toward other things.
Gist of Idea
We love or hate people more strongly because we think they are free
Source
Baruch de Spinoza (The Ethics [1675], III Pr 49S)
Book Reference
Spinoza,Benedict de: 'Ethics', ed/tr. Curley,Edwin [Penguin 1996], p.95
A Reaction
A very penetrating remark. If we abandon the concept of free will, I suspect that we will all become much more easy-going and tolerant, but the thought that feelings of love might also decline is a sobering one.