Nor when love is of this disinterested sort is there any…
““Nor when love is of this disinterested sort is there any disgrace in being deceived, but in every other case there is equal disgrace in being or not being deceived. For he who is gracious to his lover under the impression that he is rich, and is disappointed of his gains because he turns out to be poor, is disgraced all the same: for he has done his best to show that he would give himself up to any one's "uses base" for the sake of money; but this is not honourable. And on the same principle he who gives himself to a lover because he is a good man, and in the hope that he will be improved by his company, shows himself to be virtuous, even though the object of his affection turn out to be a villain, and to have no virtue; and if he is deceived he has committed a noble error. For he has proved that for his part he will do anything for anybody with a view to virtue and improvement, than which there can be nothing nobler.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Love that seeks personal gain lacks honor; true virtue lies in loving for virtue’s sake, even if deceived.
In simple terms: Loving for virtue is noble, even when deceived.
Key Takeaway
Love for virtue, not profit.
Themes
love
virtue
honor
deception
ethics
Mood
reflective
philosophical
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- romantic relationships
- friendships
- mentor‑mentee bonds
- political alliances
Key Concepts
Platonic love
moral philosophy
selflessness
Questions to Reflect On
- Is love without self‑interest possible?
- How do we balance virtue and self‑protection?
A Different Perspective
Ideal love may be unrealistic in selfish societies.