Love, n. A temporary insanity curable by marriage or by removal of the patient from the influences under which he incurred the disorder. This disease is prevalent only among civilized races living under artificial conditions; barbarous nations breathing pure air and eating simple food enjoy immunity from its ravages. It is sometimes fatal, but more frequently to the physician than to the patient.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Love is described as a temporary insanity caused by artificial civilized conditions. Bierce suggests it harms more than it helps, especially physicians.
- In plain terms
- Love is a sickness that civilized people get, often ending badly.
- What can you take from it?
- Love may be more harmful than people claim.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is love a disease?
- Does modern life distort love?
Another view
It dismisses the genuine benefits of loving relationships.
More from Ambrose Bierce
Logic, n. The art of thinking and reasoning in strict accordance with the limitations and incapacities of the human misunderstanding.
Permalink to quote #54 Mad, adj. Affected with a high degree of intellectual independence; not conforming to standards of thought, speech, and action derived by the conformants [sic]…
Permalink to quote #56 Liberty, n. One of imagination's most precious possessions.
Permalink to quote #53
Related quotes
Marriage is not just spiritual communion and passionate embraces; marriage is also three meals a day, sharing the workload and remembering to carry out the tra…
Dr. Joyce BrothersDr. Joyce Brothers quote #1 Our relationship is very special. We were very much in love and still are. Thank God we found each other. When I say my life began with Ronnie, well, it's true…
Nancy ReaganNancy Reagan quote #1 A cypress-bough, and a rose-wreath sweet, A wedding-robe, and a winding-sheet, A bridal bed and a bier. Thine be the kisses, maid, And smiling Love's alarms; A…
Thomas Lovell BeddoesThomas Lovell Beddoes quote #1