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That "ol' black magic" is a fickle force. The chemistry of romantic love can trigger the chemistry of sexual desire and the fuel of sexual desire can trigger the fuel of romance. This is why it is dangerous to copulate with someone with whom you don't wish to become involved. Although you intend to have casual sex, you might just fall in love.
Helen Fisher
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Love and sexual desire are interconnected and can lead to unexpected emotional involvement.

In this quote, Helen Fisher highlights the complex interplay between romantic love and sexual desire, suggesting that engaging in physical intimacy can blur the lines between casual encounters and deeper emotional connections. The 'fickle force' of romantic attraction can lead to unforeseen feelings, making it risky to engage in sexual relationships without considering the potential for emotional attachment.

Themes

LoveSexual DesireRomanceChemistryCasual Sex

In practice

Example use cases

During a relationship workshop, one might reference this quote to discuss the complexities of physical intimacy.

More from Helen Fisher

[Women] tend to collect more pieces of data when they think, put them into more complex patterns, see more options and outcomes. They tend to be contextual, holistic thinkers.
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People live for love. They kill for love. They die for love. They have songs, poems, novels, sculptures, paintings, myths, legends. It's one of the most powerful brain systems on Earth for both great joy and great sorrow.
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Your sweetheart calls you by another's name. His eyes linger too long on your best friend. He talks with excitement about a girl at work. And the fire catches. Jealousy - that sickening combination of possessiveness, suspicion, rage, and humiliation - can overtake your mind and threaten your very core as you contemplate your rival.
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Any kind of novelty or excitement drives up dopamine in the brain, and dopamine is associated with romantic love.
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Most of us make up our minds in the first three minutes of meeting someone whether there's a potential for a relationship.
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People have often asked me whether what I know about love has spoiled it for me. And I just simply say, 'Hardly.' You can know every single ingredient in a piece of chocolate cake, and then when you sit down and eat that cake, you can still feel that joy.
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