Out of five hundred who speak glibly of love, not one can spell the first letter of his name.
Marie De FranceRead
For what the lover would, that would the beloved; what she would ask of him that should he go before to grant. Without accord such as this, love is but a bond and a constraint.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True love involves mutual desire and a willingness to fulfill each other's wishes.
In this quote, Marie De France expresses the essence of love as a harmonious and reciprocal relationship between lovers. For love to be genuine and fulfilling, both partners must be attuned to each other's desires and needs, proactively seeking to grant those wishes. Without this mutual understanding and cooperation, love can become restrictive and burdensome rather than liberating and joyful.
Themes
LoveRelationshipMutualityDesireUnderstanding
In practice
Example use cases
In a wedding speech, one might use this quote to highlight the importance of harmony in a marriage.
More from Marie De France
All quotes →For above all things Love means sweetness, and truth, and measure; yea, loyalty to the loved one and to your word. And because of this I dare not meddle with so high a matter.
Marie De FranceRead
But sweetly and discreetly love passes from person to person, from heart to heart, or it is nothing worth.
Marie De FranceRead
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