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About this quote

What does it mean?
Love ignores flaws while desire remains blunt and realistic.
In plain terms
Love overlooks faults but desire does not.
What can you take from it?
Desire is more honest than romantic love.

Where it applies

  • relationships
  • attraction
  • intimacy

Putting it to work

  • recognize desire
  • question love blindness

Questions to consider

  • Is love really blind?
  • What does desire reveal?

Another view

Love can also be clear-eyed.

More from James Thurber

  1. Nowadays most men lead lives of noisy desperation.

    Permalink to quote #16
  2. A word to the wise is not sufficient if it doesn't make any sense.

    Permalink to quote #18
  3. It is better to have loafed and lost, than never to have loafed at all.

    Permalink to quote #15

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