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Romantic love is not an emotion. ... It's a drive. It comes from the motor of the mind, the wanting part of the mind, the craving part of the mind.
Helen Fisher
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Romantic love is driven by deep psychological urges rather than just emotions.

In this quote, Helen Fisher argues that romantic love should not merely be classified as an emotion, but rather as a powerful drive that originates from our psychological needs and desires. She highlights that love is tied to fundamental cravings within our minds, suggesting it is a complex interplay of biological and psychological forces that motivate human relationships.

Themes

Romantic LoveEmotionDriveMindCraving

In practice

Example use cases

During a wedding speech to emphasize the depth of love between two people.

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.
Helen FisherRead

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