--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Love without desire is a delusion: it…" description: "\"Love without desire is a delusion: it does not exist in nature.\" — Ninon de L'Enclos" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f6/ninon-de-l-enclos-11164_delusion_love-without-desire-is-a-delusion-it-doe_819720.png" --- # Love without desire is a delusion: it does not exist in… ![“Love without desire is a delusion: it does not exist in nature.” quote by Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f6/ninon-de-l-enclos-11164_delusion_love-without-desire-is-a-delusion-it-doe_819720.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f6/ninon-de-l-enclos-11164_delusion_love-without-desire-is-a-delusion-it-doe_819720.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f6/ninon-de-l-enclos-11164_delusion_love-without-desire-is-a-delusion-it-doe_819720.png) > “Love without desire is a delusion: it does not exist in nature.” [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Love without desire is a delusion; natural love includes desire and drive. **In simple terms:** True love includes desire; without it, it's illusory. Key Takeaway Seek love that inspires desire. Themes love desire philosophy Mood thoughtful introspective Type philosophical poetic When to use this quote - relationships - self‑reflection - therapy - creative writing Key Concepts psychology evolutionary biology Questions to Reflect On - What does desire mean in your relationships? - Can love exist without longing? A Different Perspective Desire can be confused with attachment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Delusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delusion/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Desire Delusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire-delusion-462654/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Exist Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exist-nature-240389/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-desire/) [Love Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-does/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) ## Related quotes > [“Because I didn't move here to fall in love. The desire for love is universal but that has never meant it's worthy of respect.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-kushner/because-i-didn-t-move-here-to-fall-in-love-the-desire-for-love-is/) [Rachel Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-kushner/) > [Waste does not exist in nature because ecosystems reuse everything that grows in a never-ending cycle of efficiency and purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-van-houten/waste-does-not-exist-in-nature-because-ecosystems-reuse-everything/) [Frans van Houten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-van-houten/) > [Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/life-is-either-a-daring-adventure-or-nothing-security-is-mostly-a/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Art will never be able to exist without nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-bonnard/art-will-never-be-able-to-exist-without-nature/) [Pierre Bonnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-bonnard/) > [Every single thing you see on-screen came out of somebody's creativity. It doesn't exist. Nature didn't deliver it to us. Everything had to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-katzenberg/every-single-thing-you-see-on-screen-came-out-of-somebody-s/) [Jeffrey Katzenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-katzenberg/) > [Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/security-is-mostly-a-superstition-it-does-not-exist-in-nature/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [If I take the theory as we have it now, literally, I would conclude that extra dimensions really exist. They're part of nature. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-witten/if-i-take-the-theory-as-we-have-it-now-literally-i-would-conclude/) [Edward Witten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-witten/) > [I think our society has sort of built this gender binary, and the way we've said it exists does not really exist in nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/i-think-our-society-has-sort-of-built-this-gender-binary-and-the-way/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [“Freedom doesn't exist if nature is illegal".”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idk-who/freedom-doesn-t-exist-if-nature-is-illegal/) [idk who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idk-who/) > [We, on the other hand, must take for granted that the things that exist by nature are, either all or some of them, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/we-on-the-other-hand-must-take-for-granted-that-the-things-that-exist/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature...Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. Helen Keller Fav.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yolanda-ramos/security-is-mostly-a-superstition-it-does-not-exist-in-nature-life-is-2/) [Yolanda Ramos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yolanda-ramos/) > [“Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hellen-keller/security-is-mostly-a-superstition-it-does-not-exist-in-nature-life-is/) [Hellen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hellen-keller/) > [White does not exist in nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-auguste-renoir/white-does-not-exist-in-nature/) [Pierre-Auguste Renoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-auguste-renoir/) > [Postulate 2. Constant systems of chance causes do exist in nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-a-shewhart/postulate-2-constant-systems-of-chance-causes-do-exist-in-nature/) [Walter A. Shewhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-a-shewhart/) > [“We can act to deal with the consequences of the earthquake and tsunami, but the disaster was only faintly political in the economics and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/we-can-act-to-deal-with-the-consequences-of-the-earthquake-and/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) ## More by Ninon de L'Enclos > [A woman is more influenced by what she divines than by what she is told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/a-woman-is-more-influenced-by-what-she-divines-than-by-what-she-is/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [The resistance of a woman is not always a proof of her virtue, but more frequently of her experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/the-resistance-of-a-woman-is-not-always-a-proof-of-her-virtue-but/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [One must choose between loving women and knowing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/one-must-choose-between-loving-women-and-knowing-them/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Equality is the share of every one at their advent upon earth, and equality is also theirs when placed beneath it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/equality-is-the-share-of-every-one-at-their-advent-upon-earth-and/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Novelty is the storehouse of pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/novelty-is-the-storehouse-of-pleasure/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Hatred is nearly always honest--rarely, if ever, assumed. So much cannot be said for love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/hatred-is-nearly-always-honest-rarely-if-ever-assumed-so-much-cannot/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [A woman should not take a lover without the consent of her heart, nor a husband without the consent of her reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/a-woman-should-not-take-a-lover-without-the-consent-of-her-heart-nor/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Wit is a dangerous talent in friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/wit-is-a-dangerous-talent-in-friendship/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [When our desires are fulfilled, we never fail to realize the wealth of imagination and the paucity of reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/when-our-desires-are-fulfilled-we-never-fail-to-realize-the-wealth-of/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [A cunning woman is her own mistress because she confides in no one. She who deceives others anticipates deceit, and guards herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/a-cunning-woman-is-her-own-mistress-because-she-confides-in-no-one/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [If a man needs a religion to conduct himself properly in this world, it is a sign that he has either a limited mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/if-a-man-needs-a-religion-to-conduct-himself-properly-in-this-world/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [The joy of the mind is the measure of its strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/the-joy-of-the-mind-is-the-measure-of-its-strength/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Gossip, like ennui, is born of idleness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/gossip-like-ennui-is-born-of-idleness/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [There is a certain time of life, when we value a good stomach more than the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/there-is-a-certain-time-of-life-when-we-value-a-good-stomach-more/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [Today a new sun rises for me; everything lives, everything is animated, everything seems to speak to me of my passion, everything invites me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/today-a-new-sun-rises-for-me-everything-lives-everything-is-animated/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) [Explore all 61 Ninon de L'Enclos quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) ## More Delusion quotes > [Getting rid of a delusion makes us wiser than getting hold of a truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-borne/getting-rid-of-a-delusion-makes-us-wiser-than-getting-hold-of-a-truth/) [Ludwig Borne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-borne/) > [If the idea of having to change ourselves makes us uncomfortable, we can remain as we are. We can choose rest over labour, entertainment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/if-the-idea-of-having-to-change-ourselves-makes-us-uncomfortable-we/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [ It's \[Los Angeles\] mostly full of nonsense and delusion and egomania. They think they'll be young and beautiful forever, even though most of them… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-los-angeles-mostly-full-of-nonsense-and-delusion-and-egomania/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [The Science Delusion is the belief that science already understands the nature of reality in principle leaving only the details to be filled in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-sheldrake/the-science-delusion-is-the-belief-that-science-already-understands/) [Rupert Sheldrake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-sheldrake/) > [The world is a wonderfully weird place, consensual reality is significantly flawed, no institution can be trusted, certainty is a mirage, security a delusion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-world-is-a-wonderfully-weird-place-consensual-reality-is/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“we shouldn’t surrender our real world perception to a false reality too much or we may suffer the inevitable consequences of deluded thinking. Technology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-p-neary/we-shouldn-t-surrender-our-real-world-perception-to-a-false-reality/) [M.P. Neary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-p-neary/) > [Atheism Explained is a gem. It is clear, informative, well-argued, provocative, often witty, and unfailingly interesting. David Ramsay Steele ranges over so many issues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-shearmur/atheism-explained-is-a-gem-it-is-clear-informative-well-argued/) [Jeremy Shearmur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-shearmur/) > [It is a great delusion to suppose that flesh-meat of any kind is essential to health. Considerably more than three parts of the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-booth/it-is-a-great-delusion-to-suppose-that-flesh-meat-of-any-kind-is/) [Catherine Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-booth/) > [The religions of mankind must be classed among the mass-delusions of this kind. No one, needless to say, who shares a delusion ever recognizes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/the-religions-of-mankind-must-be-classed-among-the-mass-delusions-of/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [I suffer from the delusion that every product of my imagination is not only possible, but always on the cusp of becoming real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-parker/i-suffer-from-the-delusion-that-every-product-of-my-imagination-is/) [Sean Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-parker/) > [I have a theory about marriage, Monsieur Boustouler. And it's that nearly always you will know within two weeks if it's going to work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/i-have-a-theory-about-marriage-monsieur-boustouler-and-it-s-that/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [“Someone who has the delusion Glass, is made of, does not literally believe herself to be made of glass but rather feels fragile and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-thomas/someone-who-has-the-delusion-glass-is-made-of-does-not-literally/) [Scarlett Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-thomas/) > [Paranoia is a state of heightened awareness. Most people are persecuted beyond their wildest delusions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-steiner/paranoia-is-a-state-of-heightened-awareness-most-people-are/) [Claude Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-steiner/) > [Women are women, and so are men, and the delusion that we are spiritually separate from or are about to spiritually separate from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anohni/women-are-women-and-so-are-men-and-the-delusion-that-we-are/) [Anohni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anohni/) > [I'd actually love to think that I could trust Kerry on national security. But the only way I could do that, at this point,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-reynolds/i-d-actually-love-to-think-that-i-could-trust-kerry-on-national/) [Glenn Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-reynolds/) [Browse all 1,172 Delusion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delusion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Love without desire is a delusion: it does not exist in nature.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ninon de L'Enclos" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/love-without-desire-is-a-delusion-it-does-not-exist-in-nature/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Delusion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/love-without-desire-is-a-delusion-it-does-not-exist-in-nature/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f6/ninon-de-l-enclos-11164_delusion_love-without-desire-is-a-delusion-it-doe_819720.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f6/ninon-de-l-enclos-11164_delusion_love-without-desire-is-a-delusion-it-doe_819720.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f6/ninon-de-l-enclos-11164_delusion_love-without-desire-is-a-delusion-it-doe_819720.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Love without desire is a delusion: it does not exist in nature.” — Ninon de L'Enclos", "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": "Ninon de L'Enclos", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Love without desire is a delusion:...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/love-without-desire-is-a-delusion-it-does-not-exist-in-nature/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/love-without-desire-is-a-delusion-it-does-not-exist-in-nature/#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 } } ] } ```