more from La Rochefoucauld

Single Idea 7912

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / B. Value / 2. Values / g. Love]

Full Idea

If love be judged by its most visible effects it looks more like hatred than friendship.

Gist of Idea

Judging by effects, love looks more like hatred than friendship

Source

La Rochefoucauld (Maxims [1663], 072)

Book Reference

Rochefoucauld,La: 'Maxims' [Penguin 1959], p.44


A Reaction

Presumably he is thinking of pursuit, possession and jealousy. The remark is plausible if you add the word 'sometimes' to it, but as a universal generalisation it is ridiculous, the product of a society where they competed to exceed in cynicism.