--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Love is perhaps no more than gratitude…" description: "\"Love is perhaps no more than gratitude for pleasure.\" — Honore de Balzac" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/540/honor-de-balzac-197_gratitude_love-is-perhaps-no-more-than-gratitude-f_3104695.png" --- # Love is perhaps no more than gratitude for pleasure. ![“Love is perhaps no more than gratitude for pleasure.” quote by Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/540/honor-de-balzac-197_gratitude_love-is-perhaps-no-more-than-gratitude-f_3104695.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/540/honor-de-balzac-197_gratitude_love-is-perhaps-no-more-than-gratitude-f_3104695.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/540/honor-de-balzac-197_gratitude_love-is-perhaps-no-more-than-gratitude-f_3104695.png) > “Love is perhaps no more than gratitude for pleasure.” [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Love can be seen as grateful appreciation of pleasure. **In simple terms:** Love is gratitude for pleasure. Key Takeaway Appreciate pleasure in love. Themes love gratitude pleasure philosophy Mood reflective philosophical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - romantic relationships - friendships - artistic appreciation - daily joys Key Concepts ethics psychology existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What pleasures do you cherish in love? - How does gratitude shape your relationships? A Different Perspective Pleasure alone may not sustain love. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Gratitude Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude-pleasure-3961367/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-gratitude/) [Love is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-is/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) ## Related quotes > [“perhaps love is only gratitude for pleasure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/perhaps-love-is-only-gratitude-for-pleasure/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [“and man, though idiotic, and knowing not what he does, yet full of the sweet things of love and gratitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/and-man-though-idiotic-and-knowing-not-what-he-does-yet-full-of-the/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“The truth is I do love you. Admitting that means opening myself up to all that pain when you leave. After you realize this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-moran/the-truth-is-i-do-love-you-admitting-that-means-opening-myself-up-to/) [Kelly Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-moran/) > [When in doubt, always choose love & gratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/when-in-doubt-always-choose-love-gratitude/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [Gratitude is the creative force, the mother and father of love. It is in gratitude that real love exists. Love expands only when gratitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/gratitude-is-the-creative-force-the-mother-and-father-of-love-it-is/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [Thanks are the highest form of thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/thanks-are-the-highest-form-of-thought/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Express gratitude for what your spouse does for you. Express that love and gratitude often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-g-scott/express-gratitude-for-what-your-spouse-does-for-you-express-that-love/) [Richard G. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-g-scott/) > [Love and gratitude can part seas, move mountains, and create miracles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/love-and-gratitude-can-part-seas-move-mountains-and-create-miracles/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned or worn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/happiness-cannot-be-traveled-to-owned-earned-or-worn/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [“Living in constant love and gratitude is the essence of spirituality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akemi-g/living-in-constant-love-and-gratitude-is-the-essence-of-spirituality/) [Akemi G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akemi-g/) > [“That which is of great value cannot be attained through aggression. You will be able to find the mystery of life only if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/that-which-is-of-great-value-cannot-be-attained-through-aggression/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [“She suspects that he made her feel better about a bad time and she was grateful. But gratitude should not merit love. Gratitude should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-culliton/she-suspects-that-he-made-her-feel-better-about-a-bad-time-and-she/) [Emily Culliton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-culliton/) > [I have noticed that the Universe loves Gratitude. The more Grateful you are, the more goodies you get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-hay/i-have-noticed-that-the-universe-loves-gratitude-the-more-grateful/) [Louise Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-hay/) > [Reflect upon your present blessings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/reflect-upon-your-present-blessings/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I have heard of bloggers who don't accept awards. I accept them with open arms...why not? When we spread the love and gratitude around,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-jenkins/i-have-heard-of-bloggers-who-don-t-accept-awards-i-accept-them-with/) [Katherine Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-jenkins/) ## More by Honore de Balzac > [“Oh, my friend, when you love, love a woman whom you are sure that you can love always. Never forsake a woman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/oh-my-friend-when-you-love-love-a-woman-whom-you-are-sure-that-you/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [“You have broken the ice, though you have not even scratched its glossy surface: you have placed your hand upon the croup of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/you-have-broken-the-ice-though-you-have-not-even-scratched-its-glossy/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [In a world of hunchbacks, a fine figure becomes a monstrosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/in-a-world-of-hunchbacks-a-fine-figure-becomes-a-monstrosity/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [It is quite right what they say: the three most beautiful sights in the world are a ship in full sail, a galloping horse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/it-is-quite-right-what-they-say-the-three-most-beautiful-sights-in/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [My writing table has seen all my wretchedness, knows all my plans, has overheard all my thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/my-writing-table-has-seen-all-my-wretchedness-knows-all-my-plans-has/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Foppery, being the chronic condition of women, is not so much noticed as it is when it breaks out on the person of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/foppery-being-the-chronic-condition-of-women-is-not-so-much-noticed/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [A married woman is a slave you must know how to seat upon a throne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/a-married-woman-is-a-slave-you-must-know-how-to-seat-upon-a-throne/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Rich men are resolved to be astonished at nothing. When they see a masterpiece, they must needs at one glance recognize some flaw to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/rich-men-are-resolved-to-be-astonished-at-nothing-when-they-see-a/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [I am a galley slave to pen and ink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/i-am-a-galley-slave-to-pen-and-ink/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [One can imagine the look the two lovers exchanged; it was like a flame, for virtuous lovers have not a shred of hypocrisy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/one-can-imagine-the-look-the-two-lovers-exchanged-it-was-like-a-flame/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [White and shining virgin of all human virtues, ark of the covenant between earth and heaven, tender and strong companion partaking of the lion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/white-and-shining-virgin-of-all-human-virtues-ark-of-the-covenant/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [All men can bear a familiar, definite misfortune better than the cruel alternations of a fate which, from one moment to another, brings excessive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/all-men-can-bear-a-familiar-definite-misfortune-better-than-the-cruel/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [The mind, too, has its regimen. It needs gymnastics, just like the body does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/the-mind-too-has-its-regimen-it-needs-gymnastics-just-like-the-body/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Hatred like love feeds on the merest trifles. Everything adds to it. Just as the being we love can do no wrong, so the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/hatred-like-love-feeds-on-the-merest-trifles-everything-adds-to-it/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [All human power is a compound of time and patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/all-human-power-is-a-compound-of-time-and-patience/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) [Explore all 793 Honore de Balzac quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## More Gratitude quotes > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [“A treacherous President stood in the way; and it can be easily seen how reluctant good men might be to admit an apostasy which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/a-treacherous-president-stood-in-the-way-and-it-can-be-easily-seen/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [I listen to heavy metal thanks to my son. When I argue with him on the kind of music he is listening to, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeenat-aman/i-listen-to-heavy-metal-thanks-to-my-son-when-i-argue-with-him-on-the/) [Zeenat Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeenat-aman/) > [“Thanks for teaching us to talk. Thanks for teaching us to be of the world and in the world and to make our way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-isay/thanks-for-teaching-us-to-talk-thanks-for-teaching-us-to-be-of-the/) [Dave Isay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-isay/) > [Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/wine-is-one-of-the-most-civilized-things-in-the-world-and-one-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [I want to thank each and every one of you for having extinguished yourselves this session.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gib-lewis/i-want-to-thank-each-and-every-one-of-you-for-having-extinguished/) [Gib Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gib-lewis/) > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Be in a state of gratitude for everything that shows up in your life. Be thankful for the storms as well as the smooth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/be-in-a-state-of-gratitude-for-everything-that-shows-up-in-your-life/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Man has an almost infinite capacity for taking things and people for granted and thereby missing out on the pleasure of being grateful that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/man-has-an-almost-infinite-capacity-for-taking-things-and-people-for/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“and man, though idiotic, and knowing not what he does, yet full of the sweet things of love and gratitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/and-man-though-idiotic-and-knowing-not-what-he-does-yet-full-of-the/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) [Browse all 9,111 Gratitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Love is perhaps no more than gratitude for pleasure.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Honore de Balzac" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/love-is-perhaps-no-more-than-gratitude-for-pleasure/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Gratitude" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/love-is-perhaps-no-more-than-gratitude-for-pleasure/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/540/honor-de-balzac-197_gratitude_love-is-perhaps-no-more-than-gratitude-f_3104695.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/540/honor-de-balzac-197_gratitude_love-is-perhaps-no-more-than-gratitude-f_3104695.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/540/honor-de-balzac-197_gratitude_love-is-perhaps-no-more-than-gratitude-f_3104695.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Love is perhaps no more than gratitude for pleasure.” — Honore de Balzac", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Honore de Balzac", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Love is perhaps no more than...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/love-is-perhaps-no-more-than-gratitude-for-pleasure/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/love-is-perhaps-no-more-than-gratitude-for-pleasure/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```