Perhaps we were friends first and lovers second. But then perhaps this is what lovers are.
Interpretation
The quote suggests that deep friendship can be the foundation of romantic relationships.
Andr Aciman reflects on the nature of relationships, proposing that strong romantic connections often stem from a solid friendship. This interplay between friendship and love highlights the idea that true intimacy may develop from genuine understanding and companionship first, before evolving into a romantic relationship, suggesting that such a progression can strengthen the bond between partners.
In practice
I shared this quote during my wedding vows to emphasize our deep friendship.
As we walked, I began to wonder what the opposite of molting was and why, unlike the body, which sheds everything, the soul cannot let go but compiles and accumulates, growing annual rings around the things it wants and dreams and remembers
And on that evening when we grow older still we'll speak about these two young men as though they were two strangers we met on the train and whom we admire and want to help along. And we'll want to call it envy, because to call it regret would break our hearts.
The time has come to tell the truth. Again. There is no love without justice. Men and women who cannot be just deny themselves and everyone they choose to be intimate with the freedom to know mutual love. If we remain unable to imagine a world where love can be recognized as a unifying principle that can lead us to seek and use power wisely, then we will remain wedded to a culture of domination that requires us to choose power over love.
If you listen long enough you can hear my skin grow tough love is painful to the touch must be made of stronger stuff.
Free thyself from the mighty attraction-_x000D_ _x000D_ The maddening wine of love, the charm of sex._x000D_ _x000D_ Break the harp! Forward, with the ocean's cry!. . .
I would rather live and love where death is king than have eternal life where love is not.
Romantic love is one of the most addictive substances on Earth.
I have a strange feeling with regard to you. As if I had a string somewhere under my left ribs, tightly knotted to a similar string in you. And if you were to leave I'm afraid that cord of communion would snap. And I have a notion that I'd take to bleeding inwardly. As for you, you'd forget me.
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