Appearance Quote by Saint Francis de Sales
“Many great persons have been of opinion that love is no other thing than complacency itself, in which they have had much appearance of reason. For not only does the movement of love take its origin from the complacency which the heart feels at the first approach of good, and find its end in a second complacency which returns to the heart by union with the thing beloved--but further, it depends for its preservation on this complacency, and can only subsist through it as through its mother and nurse; so that as soon as the complacency ceases, love ceases.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Introduction to the Devout Life, 1609
Love is described as a form of complacency that both initiates and sustains the feeling, fading when that complacency ends.
In simple terms: Love depends on a comfortable, settled feeling that can end.
Key Takeaway
Recognize love’s reliance on emotional stability.
Themes
philosophy
psychology
relationships
Mood
introspective
hopeful
Type
psychological
relationship
When to use this quote
- marriage counseling
- friendship development
- self‑reflection
- personal growth
Key Concepts
Emotional dependence
attachment theory
human motivation
Questions to Reflect On
- What sustains love beyond initial comfort?
- Can love thrive without complacency?
A Different Perspective
Love can become stagnant if it lacks deeper engagement.
