Love Quote by Jeanette Winterson
““Romantic love has been diluted into paperback form and has sold thousands and millions of copies. Somewhere it is still in the original, written on tablets of stone. I would cross seas and suffer sunstroke and give away all I have, but not for a man, because they want to be the destroyer and never the destroyed. That is why they are unfit for romantic love. There are exceptions and I hope they are happy. The unknownness of my needs frightens me. I do not know how huge they are, or how high they are, I only know that they are not being met.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Written on the Body, Jeanette Winterson, 1992
The speaker sees modern romance as commercialized and shallow, contrasting it with timeless, profound love that demands sacrifice, yet feels unfit for such love due to fear of being destroyed.
In simple terms: Modern love feels cheap; true love is deep and risky.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and articulate your deep needs.
Themes
love
fear
authenticity
commercialization
vulnerability
Mood
reflective
melancholic
hopeful
Type
personal
philosophical
emotive
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- dating
- self‑reflection
- therapy
- creative writing
Key Concepts
Romantic idealism
self‑preservation
existential longing
Questions to Reflect On
- What unmet needs truly drive you?
- How can you seek love without losing self?
A Different Perspective
The speaker may be idealizing unattainable love, ignoring practical partnership dynamics.
