Full Idea
Relationships that are primarily romantic or sexual do not provide very authentic or illuminating paradigms of love. ...The love of parents for their small children comes closest to offering recognizably pure instances of love.
Gist of Idea
The paradigm case of pure love is not romantic, but that between parents and infants
Source
Harry G. Frankfurt (The Reasons of Love [2005], 2.4)
Book Reference
Frankfurt,Harry G.: 'The Reasons of Love' [Princeton 2006], p.43
A Reaction
Excellent. Though perhaps a relationships which began romantically might settle into something like the more 'pure' love that he has in mind. Such a relationship must, I trust, be possible between adults.