Dear friend Quote by Guy de Maupassant
““Because it is useless, and I tell them so at once. If you had confessed your fears to me sooner, I would have reassured you. My dear friend, a man in love is not only foolish but dangerous. I cease all intercourse with people who love me or pretend to; firstly, because they bore me, and secondly, because I look upon them with dread, as I would upon a mad dog. I know that your love is only a kind of appetite; while with me it would be a communion of souls. Now, look me in the face—" she no longer smiled. "I will never be your sweetheart; it is therefore useless for you to persist in your efforts. And now that I have explained, shall we be friends?””
About This Quote
The speaker rejects romantic love, viewing it as a dangerous, irrational appetite that threatens personal autonomy, and proposes friendship as a safer alternative.
In simple terms: Love as a perilous, irrational hunger.
Key Takeaway
Reject love for self‑preservation.
Themes
love
danger
autonomy
friendship
irrationality
Mood
cautious
defensive
detached
Type
dialogue
monologue
philosophical
When to use this quote
- confessing love
- seeking reassurance
- intimate relationships
- friendship proposals
Key Concepts
fear
appetite
dread
control
Practical Applications
- psychological analysis of love
- literary character study
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to view love as a threat?
- How does the speaker’s fear shape their relationships?
