Like everything which is not the involuntary result of fleeting emotion but the creation of time and will, any marriage, happy or unhappy, is infinitely more interesting than any romance, however passionate.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
Most marriages recognize this paradox: Passion destroys passion; we want what puts an end to wanting what we want.
The appeal of romance is love. And that's universal.
Love is a great emotion, but I believe it's not just about romance; it could be love for nature, people, for relationships.
Romantic love came under attack, first from the Freudians and then from the neuroscientists, who said that being in love was a chemical reaction in the brain. Marriage is no longer seen as a lifetime commitment.
The essence of romantic love is that wonderful beginning, after which sadness and impossibility may become the rule.
There's something about marriage that is not as intensely romantic or interesting as a couple's first meeting.
If we seek the pleasures of love, passion should be occasional, and common sense continual.
Sensual pleasures have the fleeting brilliance of a comet; a happy marriage has the tranquillity of a lovely sunset.
In a world where there is so much sadness and so much to be afraid of, good things do happen to people. Romance is still something we can find even if we're not consciously looking for it.
Any kind of novelty or excitement drives up dopamine in the brain, and dopamine is associated with romantic love.