Alliances Quote by Alain de Botton
“Perhaps because the origins of a certain kind of love lie in an impulse to escape ourselves and out weaknesses by an alliance with the beautiful and noble. But if the loved ones love us back, we are forced to return to ourselves, and are hence reminded of the things that had driven us into love in the first place. Perhaps it was not love we wanted after all, perhaps it was simply someone in whom to believe, but how can we continue to believe the the beloved now that they believe in us?”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Course of Love, Alain de Botton, 2016
Love often begins as an escape from personal flaws, but true intimacy forces self‑confrontation and mutual belief.
In simple terms: Love is self‑discovery and trust.
Key Takeaway
Embrace vulnerability.
Themes
love
self‑knowledge
trust
growth
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- romantic relationships
- personal therapy
- friendship
Key Concepts
Attachment theory
existentialism
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What does you love reveal about yourself?
- How can you balance self‑care with caring for others?
A Different Perspective
Idealized love can ignore personal responsibility.
![“[U]nless oppressed groups stick together, and on alliances of self interest rather than do-goodism; nothing can be accomplished in the long run to dismantle the apparatus of oppression.” quote by Shulamith Firestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d7b/shulamith-firestone-12980_accomplished_u-nless-oppressed-groups-stick-together_5485.jpg)
