Quotes About Love, in All Its Glorious Forms
From a mother’s nurturing love for her child to the companionship between best friends to the enduring bond of a longtime couple, love is a complex emotion that can be experienced and expressed in innumerable ways. While there’s no universally agreed-upon classification of love “types,” it’s a topic that philosophers, poets, and scholars have contemplated for more than two millennia.
Throughout history, various frameworks and theories have been proposed to distinguish between the different manifestations of love and their distinctive attributes. The ancient Greeks notably recognized several varieties of love, many of which you can read about below. Those categories have persisted for hundreds of years, although they’ve been adapted and reinterpreted to align with evolving philosophies about relationships.
As William Shakespeare’s star-crossed Juliet said, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” And so it is with love. Whatever we call it or whatever words we use to describe it, love is love. Here are some illuminating quotes to remind us that love, in all its myriad forms, remains a timeless and essential emotion that unites us all.
Eros (romantic love)
Named for the Greek god of love, eros represents the most passionate form of love. The words “erotic” and “erogenous” are derived from eros, so as you might guess, this kind of love also extends to physical intimacy.
Storge is the affection felt between family members, particularly by parents for their children and vice versa. This type of familiar love occurs naturally and spontaneously.
Philia is the affectionate love experienced between friends. Plato philosophized that physical attraction wasn’t a necessary element for experiencing love, which is why platonic relationships are named for him. Though they have often gotten short shrift compared to romantic love, friendships are essential to our well-being.
Agape is the type of selfless, altruistic love that inspires compassion and generosity. In Christian scripture, it is the highest form of love — transcendent and spiritual, marked by charity toward others and a love for the divine.
Philautia is the love of self, the type of love related to our self-esteem and self-confidence, which can ultimately lead to healthier relationships with others. The ancient Greeks recognized that philautia can also have a darker side when it manifests as narcissism.
As the word suggests, pragma is a pragmatic, or practical, love based on a sense of duty, commitment, and shared goals. This is the type of love found in marriages and life partnerships that have matured and developed over a long period of time.
Storge (familial love)
Philia (brotherly love)
Agape (unconditional love)
Philautia (self-love)
Pragma (enduring love)
