Top 100 Love Quotes & Sayings of All Time
The following is 1-Love-Quotes users' selection of the Top 100 Love & Romance quotes of all time! This selection process included over four million users submitting their favorite Love Quotes. The top 100 most frequently submitted love quotes make up this list below. See what users, such as yourself, have ranked as the "Top 100 Love Quotes of all Time" (compilation took place in 2010). These 100 quotoes are in no particluar order. Make sure to check them all out, as they are ALL wonderful!
1. There is no remedy for love but to love more.
Henry David Thoreau - Deeply in love with a woman named Ellen, whom his own brother John also loved, Henry David Thoreau penned this line in his journal on July 25th in the 1830s. Fifteen years later Thoreau retreated to his hut in the woods for two years of contemplation where he penned his great work, “Walden.”2. Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are.
Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two.
Louis De Bernieres - Written by British novelist Louis De Bernieres, this quote flows from the pages of his most famous literary work, “Captain Corelli’s Mandolin.” The book is about a young Italian officer who is posted to a Greek island, where he endears himself to the locals with his humor and music.3. In real love you want the other person's good. In romantic love you want the other person.
Margaret Anderson was editor and founder of The Little Review, a literary magazine that published the works of many American, English, and Irish writers in the early 1900s. This quote is attributed to Anderson, however, no source is found for context. One might assume she wrote and published it in an article for her magazine.4. In dreams and in love there are no impossibilities.
Janos Arany - Hungarian poet Janos Arany is widely considered the “Shakespeare of ballads.” With a title like that, it is not difficult to believe these words about love were written by his hand. He wrote over 40 ballads in his lifetime, which have been translated into more than 50 languages. Unfortunately, there is no source for this quote.5. Love is the beauty of the soul.
Saint Augustine - A Christian theologian, saint, and philosopher, Saint Augustine originally wrote this line in Latin,“Quia ipsa charitas est animae pulchritudo.” He was speaking of charity, the purest love of all.6. A kiss is a lovely trick, designed by nature, to stop words when speech becomes superfluous.
Ingrid Bergmen - Star of “Casablanca” in 1942, Ingrid Bergman was one of America’s best actresses. Of Swedish origin, Bergman was awarded several Academy and Emmy awards throughout her career. It can be supposed that this line was one from a film she was in.7. Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.
Aristotle - When asked the question, “What is a friend?” the Greek philosopher gave this response, “A friend is a single soul inhabiting two bodies.” The quote above is a popular variant of this.8. Love is the irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired.
Robert Frost - Although often attributed to Mark Twain or “love doctor” Leo Buscaglia, this quote was truly said by Robert Frost on a walk with Sidney Cox in 1911. He believed strongly in the endurance of love and marriage and this was reflected in some of his writing.9. How delicious is the winning of a kiss at love's beginning.
Thomas Campbell - Cited in “The Cambridge book of poetry and song,” this quote is found as the first line in Thomas Campbell’s poem, “How Delicious is the Winning,” written sometime in the early 1800s.10. When you are in love you can't fall asleep because reality is better than your dreams.
Dr. Seuss - From “The Cat in the Hat” to “Green Eggs and Ham,” Theodore Seuss Geisel’s children’s books are widely read by many ages. He also wrote short stories, political cartoons, and even a few WWII propaganda films. There is no specific source for this quote, but this may have been penned in one of his less-known works. 11. The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.
Helen Keller - Blind and deaf from a childhood illness, Helen Keller became a miracle when she learned to speak sign from the inspired teachings of Anne Sullivan. Sullivan became a dear friend and mentor of Keller’s, and it was in a letter to another acquaintance that Keller mentioned Sullivan teaching her the concept of this quote.12. I love you, not only for what you are, But for what I am when I am with you.
Roy Croft - Roy Croft is a poet and translator. Beginning his poem titled “Love,” these words speak the true essence of love. However, his poem is nearly identical to a German-language poem by Eric Fried titled “Ich liebe dich” (“I Love You”). Little is known about either poem, so it is difficult to say if Croft actually wrote this poem or if he translated Fried’s poem and ended up with the credit.13. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning - In a poem titled “How Do I Love Thee,” by the famed British poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning these words are written as the second line. Browning published many poems on love, especially after becoming acquainted with the writer and poet Robert Browning, who later became her husband.14. Take away love, and our earth is a tomb.
Robert Browning - Robert Browning, husband of poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, also published many great works. Among them is a poem not quite as well known titled, “Fra Lippo Lippi,” in which this quote is found.15. But to see her was to love her, love but her, and love her forever.
Robert Burns - Widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland or “Scotland’s favourite son,” Robert Burns wrote much poetry both in the Scots language and in English. This quote comes from a ballad called “Ae Fond Kiss,” written to the tune of “Rory Dall’s Port” and supposedly referring to Burns’ parting with a woman named Clarinda.16. Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.
Robert A. Heinlein - Robert A. Heinlein was a science fiction author of many great works. One of his greatest is “Stranger in a Strange Land,” about a man from Mars who is brought to earth and the events that follow. This quote, surprisingly enough, come from that novel in a line by a character named Jubal.17. Like music on the waters is thy sweet voice to me.
Lord Byron - These words show up in a poem untitled, written in 1815 by Lord Byron. The first lines leading up to this read, “There be none of Beauty’s daughters with a magic like thee; And like music on the waters is they sweet voice to me…”18. What I do and what I dream include thee, as the wine must taste of its own grapes.
Elizabeth Browning - From her collection of Sonnets from Portugues, Elizabeth Barrett Browning gives us this wonderful quote in sonnet VI.19. You're nothing short of my everything.
Ralph Block - An American film producer from the early 1920s, not much is information is available about Ralph Block, and, unfortunately, the same is true for this quote.20. The only true gift is a portion of yourself.
Ralph Waldo Emerson - As a brilliant writer, Ralph Waldo Emerson is widely read. He wrote poems as well as essays, and it is in his “Essays: Second Series” from 1844 that this inspiring quote, about giving of yourself in the name of love, comes from.21. Love distills desire upon the eyes, love brings bewitching grace into the heart.
Euripides - From the works of the Greek philosopher Euripides comes this line. Depending on the translation, it might also be read as, “Love, distilling liquid desire upon the eyes, bringing sweet pleasure to the soul…”22. I love her and that's the beginning and end of everything.
F. Scott Fitzgerald - F. Scott Fitzgerald is a famous American author known for his four novels, among which is “The Great Gatsby.” It was in a letter to a friend concerning the woman he loved that Fitzgerald wrote this line, just before his marriage in the early 1920s.23. I wished for nothing beyond her smile, and to walk with her thus, hand in hand, along a sun-warmed, flower-bordered path.
Andre Gide - Andre Gide, a French novelist and winner of the 1947 Nobel Prize in literature, wrote a book titled “La Porte Etroite” (Straight is the Gate). It was published in 1909 and is a novel about love’s failing to overcome the narrow view of Protestantism. Something of a tragedy, and yet, this beautiful quote is found within its pages.24. She walks in Beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies,
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes...
Lord Byron - Lord Byron, British poet, wrote the poem these lines begin in June of 1814. The poem is titled “She Walks in Beauty.”25. Thou art to me a delicious torment.
Ralph Waldo Emerson - In his first series of essays (written in 1841), Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote this line. It can be found in essay VI titled, “Friendship.”26. Where we love is home, home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.
Oliver Wendell Holmes - As part of his literary work “The Breakfast-table” series, Oliver Wendall Holmes wrote a poem titled “Homesick in Heaven,” which poem this quote is from.27. What I feel for you seems less of earth and more of a cloudless heaven.
Victor Hugo - Author of Les Miserables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Victor Hugo wrote many great literary works in the 1800s that we enjoy today. As a French Romantic writer, love is topic visited often, although no source for this quote could be found.28. It's so easy,
To think about love,
To talk about love,
To wish for love,
But it's not always easy,
To recognize love,
Even when we hold it
In our hands.
Jaka
The author of this quote, or rather, poem, is not well known, and neither can a source be found for the beautiful poem he or she has written. 29. Two souls with but a single thought, two hearts that beat as one.
Friedrich Halm - Often mistakenly attributed to the poet John Keats, this quote was actually written by an Austrian dramatist, poet and writer under the pen-name Friedrich Halm. In Act ii of his play, “Der Sohn der Wildnis” (published as “Ingomar the Barbarian” in English) these lines are found written in his beautiful language.30. Come live with me, and be my love, and we will some new pleasures prove, of golden sands, and crystal brooks, with silken lines and silver hooks.
John Donne - John Donne was a poet of love; his works included sonnets, poetry, Latin translations, and songs, most dealing with the topics of religion and love. These lines are written in the first stanza of a piece titled “The Bait.”31. There’s this place in me where your fingerprints still rest, your kisses still linger, and your whispers softly echo. It's the place where a part of you will forever be a part of me.
Gretchen Kemp -The author of this quote is not well known, and neither can a source be found for the beautiful words she has written. 32. When you came, you were like red wine and honey, and the taste of you burnt my mouth with its sweetness.
Amy Lowell - An American poet, Amy Lowell won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1926, after her death. In her poem, “A Decade,” these words are immortalized for the world to enjoy.33. Make me immortal with a kiss.
Christopher Marlowe - In the tragic historical Old English drama, “Doctor Faustus,” Christopher Marlowe wrote these lines during the late 1500s.34. There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved.
George Sand - A woman was actually the mastermind behind the literary works recorded under the name “George Sand.” At a time when women were not taken seriously, this woman pioneered the way for others to follow. From the work, “In Her Own Words,” she wrote, “To love and be loved is happiness, heaven itself!” This is often paraphrased as the above quote.35. Love is the enchanted dawn of every heart.
Alphonse Marie de Lamartine - This quote, attributed to French writer and poet Alphonse Marie de Lamartine, can be found in his work, the “Meditations Poetiques.”36. In the arithmetic of love, one plus one equals everything, and two minus one equals nothing.
Mignon McLaughlin - An American journalist and author, Mignon McLaughlin has written for Redbook, Vogue, and Cosmopolitan magazines, among others. While no source is found for this particular quote, she has also written very similar words, such as, “A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.”37. We came by night to the Fortunate Isles, And lay like fish Under the net of our kisses.
Pablo Neruda - In his untitled poem translated from Spanish, Pablo Neruda wrote these lines. Pablo became famous as a poet while still a teenager, always writing in green ink, his color of hope.38. The hours I spend with you I look upon as sort of a perfumed garden, a dim twilight and a fountain singing to it…Other men, it is said, have seen angels, but I have seen thee and thou art enough.
George Moore - In a letter to Lady Emerald Cunard, George Moore penned these words; perhaps it was out of love, but their relationship has never been proven to have been more than a genuine, platonic friendship.39. In love there are two things: bodies and words.
Joyce Carol Oates - In a book exploring the moods and expressions of love, Joyce Carol Oates included these lines. The book is titled, “The wheel of love: and other stories.”40. I become a waterwheel, turning and tasting you, as long as water moves.
Rumi - Born in Afghanistan, this Persian poet and theologian wrote many great religious works. This is likely one of them, however, since his works originate in the 13th century, it is difficult to say where this quote came from.
41. "I miss you even more than I could have believed; and I was prepared to miss you a good deal."
Vita Sackville-West
42. "Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction."
Antoine de Saint-Exupery
43. "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
Antoine de Saint-Exupery
45. "Sometimes your nearness takes my breath away; and all the things I want to say can find no voice. Then, in silence, I can only hope my eyes will speak my heart."
Robert Sexton
48. "Love is but the discovery of ourselves in others, and the delight in the recognition."
Alexander Smith
49. "I am my beloved, and my beloved is me."
Song of Solomon
50. "Her breath is like honey spiced with cloves, Her mouth delicious as a ripened mango."
Srzgarakarika
52. "Love, till dawn sunder night from day with fire Dividing my delight and my desire..."
A.C. Swinburne
54. "Within you I lose myself. Without you I find myself wanting to become lost again."
Author Unknown
55. "Somewhere there's someone who dreams of your smile..."
Author Unknown
56. "I see my fated stars in your eyes. They melt me like the sun does snow."
Author Unknown
57. "The rose speaks of love silently, in a language known only to the heart."
Author Unknown
58. "To be your friend was all I ever wanted; to be your lover was all I ever dreamed."
Author Unknown
59. "If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you made me smile, I would have the whole night sky in the palm of my hand."
Author Unknown
60. "If you love me only in my dreams, let me be asleep forever."
Author Unknown
61. "Kiss me and you will see stars; love me and I will give them to you."
Author Unknown
62. "Love is a dream that comes alive when we meet."
Author Unknown
63. "The soul that can speak with its eyes can also kiss with a gaze."
Author Unknown
65. "Harmony is pure love, for love is a concerto."
Lope de Vega
66. "Here are fruits, flowers, leaves, and branches, And here is my heart which beats only for you."
Paul Verlaine
67. "When a heart finds another, what's a cloud more or less in the sky?"
Wolf and Page
68. "The most precious possession that ever comes to a man in this world is a woman's heart.
Josiah G. Holland
69. "From every human being there rises a light that reaches straight to heaven. And when two souls that are destined to be together find each other, their streams of light flow together, and a single brighter light goes forth from their united being."
Author Unknown
70. "The most wonderful of all things in life is the discovery of another human being with whom one's relationship has a growing depth, beauty and joy as the years increase. This inner progressiveness of love between two human beings is a most marvelous thing; it cannot be found by looking for it or by passionately wishing for it. It is a sort of divine accident, and the most wonderful of all things in life."
Sir Hugh Walpole
71. "Love means to commit oneself without guarantee, to give oneself completely in the hope that our love will produce love in the loved person. Love is an act of faith, and whoever is of little faith is also of little love."
Erich Fromm
72. "You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly."
Sam Keen
73. "The most powerful symptom of love is a tenderness which becomes at times almost insupportable."
Victor Hugo
75. "Love is the emblem of eternity: it confounds all notion of time: effaces all memory of a beginning, all fear of an end."
Germaine De Stael
77. "For every beauty there is an eye somewhere to see it. For every truth there is an ear somewhere to hear it. For every love there is a heart somewhere to receive it."
Ivan Panin
78. "Listening is an attitude of the heart, a genuine desire to be with another which both attracts and heals."
J. Isham
79. "Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage."
Lao Tzu
80. "The most eloquent silence; that of two mouths meeting in a kiss."
Author Unknown
81. "Since love grows within you, so beauty grows. For love is the beauty of the soul."
St. Augustine
84. "True love is eternal, infinite, and always like itself. It is equal and pure, without violent demonstrations: it is seen with white hairs and is always young in the heart."
Honore de Balzac
85. "We are all born for love... it is the principle existence and it's only end."
Benjamin Disraeli
87. "Love doesn't make the world go round, love is what makes the ride worthwhile."
Elizabeth Browning
88. " When you are in Love you can't fall asleep because reality is better than your dreams. "
Dr Seuss
90. "So dear I love him that with him,
All deaths I could endure.
Without him, live no life."
William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
91. "Love is like a friendship caught on fire: In the beginning a flame, very pretty, often hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. As love grows older, our hearts mature and our love becomes as coals, deep-burning and unquenchable."
Bruce Lee
92. "She walks in beauty,
Like the night of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes."
Lord Byron
97. " Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot, who calls you back when you hang up on him, who will lie under the stars and listen to your heartbeat, or will stay awake just to watch you sleep... wait for the boy who kisses your forehead, who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats, who holds your hand in front of his friends, who thinks you' re just as pretty without makeup on. One who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares and how lucky he is to have YOU... The one who turns to his friends and says, thats her... "
Author Unknown
99. "If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk in my garden forever."
Alfred Lord Tennyson
