Accidents Quote by Saint Augustine
“Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being in love which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident.”
About This Quote
Source Treat: Confessions, Book 8, c. 397 AD
Love endures beyond passionate infatuation, requiring deliberate choice and deep interdependence after the initial excitement fades.
In simple terms: Love lasts after the thrill ends, needing commitment.
Key Takeaway
Choose lasting connection over fleeting passion.
Themes
love
commitment
interdependence
growth
Mood
reflective
hopeful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- marriage counseling
- long‑term partnership
- friendship maintenance
- post‑breakup healing
Key Concepts
philosophy
psychology
relationship dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- What does lasting love look like for you?
- How do you nurture depth after the initial passion wanes?
A Different Perspective
Love alone cannot sustain a relationship without effort and mutual support.
