What is love?

[ChibiHorsewoman]

[color=darkviolet]I have to confess that the beginning of this thread started out a lot smoother in my head than it's coming out on screen. The question is as shown meaning what do you define love as. I know it may not be as broad a question or as varied as other questions in other threads, but I figured I'd ask anyway.

I know I'll sound stupid by saying this, but I think love is about trust and being able to care more about someone else rather than yourself. It's about compromise with a bit of sacrifice as well.

Yeah I know it looks like a Halmark card you find filed under romance. Maybe I should sell it.

Well, ok, I made myself look stupid, now it's your turn.[/color]

[Ezekiel]

[COLOR=DarkOrange][SIZE=1]You don't sound stupid at all, I think it's very right what you said about love and I couldn't put it better myself.

I want to add something else, though. I view love as a battle, now I may only be 15 but bare with me here. Love is something that you have to fight for; something that you know no matter what the circumstances you will get through it. If you reach the stage where it seems that you can't fight any more, then that love is dieing out. That's how I feel at the moment, and it isn't nice.

It depends on how you view it as to whether or not love is necessarily a good thing in some cases, heh. But, when people find their true love I think it can be the most wonderful thing in the world. In the last couple of years since I've started dating and wishing for someone to 'love me' I've lived by the motto; 'Everyone has a true love, but they just need to find them.'


Love is Russian Roulette with a hot pink Magnum ^_~[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Xander Harris]

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

[B]Definition of Love:[/B] [I]Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not selfseeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. [/I]

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

I tried to think of a way to put that in my own words, but I think the original said it best. Cookie to the person who knows the reference for this ;)

[ChibiHorsewoman]

[QUOTE=Xander Harris]If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

[B]Definition of Love:[/B] [I]Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not selfseeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. [/I]

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

I tried to think of a way to put that in my own words, but I think the original said it best. Cookie to the person who knows the reference for this ;)[/QUOTE]

[color=darkviolet]I'm guessing 1st Corinthians, but I don't know the passage or verses. It's a very common reading to do at Christian weddings.[/color]

[Xander Harris]

[quote name='ChibiHorsewoman][color=darkviolet']I'm guessing 1st Corinthians, but I don't know the passage or verses. It's a very common reading to do at Christian weddings.[/color][/quote]

Half a cookie for knowing the book. :p The chapter is 13.

[Sara]

[QUOTE=Cera. (Who's Cera?)]
Greater love hath no one but this: That he lay down his life for his friends.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.....

And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.[/QUOTE][color=#ff6600]It's funny how people can say "I love you," and believe they mean it, but not actually...know what they are talking about, I guess. I've had a young man profess his love for me...and he was serious, or thought he was. It was scary, because I didn't feel that way about him, and it was very overwhelming. I was sixteen. He was seventeen. He's married now.

I've heard, or said, that [b]Love is caring about someone else more than yourself,[/b] but I think that definition needs a second part: [b]and trusting the other person to feel the same way.[/b] (And, I think, they [i]do[/i] need to feel the same way.) I think that's a valid way of putting it, whether you denote that by "true" love, [i]agape[/i] or some other term. I suppose the idea that the feeling is returned has more to do with relationship than individual love.

"Love" itself is very broad in English. I love ice cream, I love my family members, I love my friends. I don't feel the same way about all of them, heh. But Love, in the sense that people usually try to define, is unconditional. The idea that, despite anything (and possibly everything) your feelings for this person would remain unchanged.

on your corner in the pouring rain,
Sara[/color]

[Boba Fett]

[color=green]Love is feeling completely comfortable with someone, being able to trust them absolutely, feeling like you can talk to them about anything and being ready to compromise some of you for another person.

It?s not an easy thing, to be sure.[/color]

[TOTALIMMORTAL]

Here's a simple way of putting it: [B]Anything you'd die for, you love.[/B]

I think that's pretty much accurate. I can't really think of any exceptions, but correct me if I'm wrong. I myself, am in love. I know a lot of you will say that I'm too young to even know what love is, I am only 14, but I do. You'll definitely know what it is when you find it. So here's something else. Love can and is different for every single person, so there's not one single answer for what love is. Love is what you make of it, and you'll know what to make of it when you find it.

[Retribution]

Yes, the quote "Anything you'd die for, you love" is very true. However, there are exceptions to this 'rule.' I'm sure a child loves their mother, but would they have the courage to die for her? Probably not.

And I love my family very, very dearly. But if the time came around for it, I'm not sure if I'd take the bullet instead of them. That's in all seriousness. My mind can't wrap itself the concept of not existing anymore. I can't handle the gravity of that, and the only thing that would make me die for my family is courage. I believe I have a fair deal of it, but I can say what I would do all I want, as I sit comfortable in my chair typing this. But believe me; things change when you're looking down a barrel, decided if you have the guts to save your family or not.

But the quote is rather accurate. If you truly love something, your courage should be able to override your fear.

[Solo Tremaine]

[quote name='Lore][color=#ff6600]I've heard, or said, that [b]Love is caring about someone else more than yourself,[/b] but I think that definition needs a second part: [b]and trusting the other person to feel the same way.[/b] (And, I think, they [i]do[/i] need to feel the same way.) I think that's a valid way of putting it, whether you denote that by "true" love, [i]agape[/i'] or some other term. I suppose the idea that the feeling is returned has more to do with relationship than individual love.[/color][/quote][color=#503f86]But you can still love something unequivocally even if it's not fully requited. I guess a love for something can't be properly expressed in its entirety unless there's something going to be given in return and you certainly need that in order for it to actualy succeed, but the feelings could still be there.

Having said that, as I've been writing this post I've changed my mind ^_^; Although as I see it it's not so much trusting the other person to feel the same way, but more trying to evoke their feelings of appreciation for you- reassuring the requitement, as it were.

[quote name='Lore][color=#ff6600']"Love" itself is very broad in English. I love ice cream, I love my family members, I love my friends. I don't feel the same way about all of them, heh. But Love, in the sense that people usually try to define, is unconditional. The idea that, despite anything (and possibly everything) your feelings for this person would remain unchanged. [/color][/quote]The problem I've found with love is that it's not a static concept. It's a very dynamic feeling that encompasses many different aspects of humanity and personality. As a feeling, I'd say that when you don't have it, you don't notice it. But when you are in love it affects you deeply and completely.

[quote name='TOTALIMMORTAL]Here's a simple way of putting it: [b']Anything you'd die for, you love.[/b][/quote]I think that's too broad a statement, personally. People are willing to die to protect their country and suicide bombers have been brought up to kill themselves to get rid of their enemies, but it's a different kind of love to that you experience with another person. Any[i]one[/i] you'd die for, you love might be a better way of putting it. But even then I'd be willing to sacrifice myself for a number of my friends but I don't love them all in the same way.[/color]

[Adahn]

[QUOTE=TOTALIMMORTAL]Here's a simple way of putting it: [b]Anything you'd die for, you love.[/b]
[/QUOTE]
I wholeheartedly disagree. I think the opposite is true, but with a slight change. [b]Anyone you'd live for, you love.[/b] Any person can give up his/her life, but does anyone stop and think about how the person you love feels? If you truly love them, and they love you, you'd be willing to do anything to live for them. Making them happy is your sole motivation in life, and dying for them will cause them the greatest pain ever. If one of us [b]HAD [/b]to die, and the other would have to go on living, I would suffer the burden of life without her.

[Xander Harris]

[quote name='Adahn]I wholeheartedly disagree. I think the opposite is true, but with a slight change. [b]Anyone you'd live for, you love.[/b] Any person can give up his/her life, but does anyone stop and think about how the person you love feels? If you truly love them, and they love you, you'd be willing to do anything to live for them. Making them happy is your sole motivation in life, and dying for them will cause them the greatest pain ever. If one of us [b]HAD [/b']to die, and the other would have to go on living, I would suffer the burden of life without her.[/quote]

Hmm. I think you are spot on when you say that love is living for someone or something. I think it's easier to die for someone or something than to truly live for them. The decision to die for someone takes just a moment to make, and then it's all over.

But if you are living for someone or something, than everything you do, everything you say, should be honoring to them. You may love your SO, but if you ever have lustful thoughts, even for a second, about another man/women you have ceased to be living for that person.

You may say you live for your God (or whatever you worship) but if you are not living every moment of every day according to the way that diety would have you live, than you cannot truly say you are living for them.

Personally (and yes, this is a religious belief. Ignore the next paragraph if you so desire), I believe that we can have love in this world, but it is not perfect love. In the next life, when we are made like Christ, we will have perfect love. Until then it will not be perfect. But a world with love, even imperfect love, is infinitely better than a world without.

Till the lion lies down with the lamb,

James Bierly

[elfpirate]

I do agree with a lot of the points on this thread, but I, myself cannot define love, as words will always fall short of it's depth. No poet can verse the true essence of love...

I am always disappointed in the misuse of the word because it has become a catch-all phrase with very little meaning (ie: I love your shoes!)

While words fall short of the magnitude of love's abyss, I guess it would be safe to say that love is what you are alive within... and that what you love is what you would die to protect ( as was said earlier in the thread).

[Panda]

Love is really difficult to define. There are so many different types of love as mentioned before in this thread. The love I hold for my husband is different from that of my love I have towards my parents. Which is again different than my love of anime and different once again from the love I have for my pets.

The word love can be tossed around so easily in everyday conversation. For example when you tell someone you love chocolate cake. You probably don't even think twice about professing your love of chocolate cake, yet if you had to tell someone you have a crush on that you love them, it would be very difficult. Both are examples of you "love", but hold far different meanings.

Love takes many forms and it is impossible to give it just one definition.

[Sara]

[quote name='Solo Tremaine][COLOR=#503F86']But you can still love something unequivocally even if it's not fully requited. I guess a love for something can't be properly expressed in its entirety unless there's something going to be given in return and you certainly need that in order for it to actualy succeed, but the feelings could still be there.[/COLOR][/quote][color=#ff6600]Yes, I amended what I had orignally said before I posted. That the feeling is returned is part of a relationship, which...is closely tied with love, but not the same thing. (Well, they are hopefully simultaneous, heh.)

Mmm. Love. What a crazy thing to ask teenagers to define, eh?

just a soul whose intentions are good,
Sara[/color]

[Afire]

[quote name='elfpirate']While words fall short of the magnitude of love's abyss, I guess it would be safe to say that love is what you are alive within... and that what you love is what you would die to protect ( as was said earlier in the thread).[/quote]
Definitions of: Abyss

1. chasm: a chasm or gorge so deep or vast that its extent is not visible
2. endless space: something that is immeasurably deep or infinite
3. terrible situation: a situation of apparently unending awfulness
4. hell: hell thought of as a bottomless pit

[FONT=Trebuchet MS][SIZE=1][COLOR=Red]I'd rather think of love as a fountain bubbling over than as an abyss.

I've been thinking alot about love lately. About how much my parents love me and how much I love them. I've always taken that love for granted...but lately I've been surprised by love. Realizing more and more that love is more than just a feeling. It's something forever and true. It's something beyond the emotions of mankind. Without it, there would be no reason to live.

Did you ever have a friend or love that you knew in your heart would be your friend or love forever... even if you knew you would never see this person again? To lose this persons love would be a great loss, but to lose their physical person isn't.

Did you ever have a friend or love that expected you to maintain their emotions. One that expected you to make sacrifices? To lose this person would be no great loss... because this person is a burden. Love shouldn't be a burden.

Love is a surprise.
Love is a miracle.

Love isn't an emotion. Mankinds emotions play off of circumstance and sacrifice.
Love should be free. If you can receive love freely, you'll be able to give love freely.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[elfpirate]

[QUOTE=Afire]Definitions of: Abyss

1. chasm: a chasm or gorge so deep or vast that its extent is not visible
2. endless space: something that is immeasurably deep or infinite
3. terrible situation: a situation of apparently unending awfulness
4. hell: hell thought of as a bottomless pit

[font=Trebuchet MS][size=1][color=red]I'd rather think of love as a fountain bubbling over than as an abyss.

[color=darkgreen]Yeah... well... when I used the word [b][i]abyss[/i][/b], I was using it as it is defined in the second definition you posted. When you use a word, it doesn't necessarily carry all possible definitions with it. After all, when I make a [i][b]sacrifice[/b][/i] for a loved one, I don't disembowel a goat... well... not typically, anyway...[/color]
[/color][/size][/font]

[Hevn]

[COLOR=Purple][SIZE=1][B][COLOR=Plum]Love is a little bit of everything![/COLOR][/B] ^_^

It's a bit of happiness and sadness, and giving and sacrifice. It hurts and it heals. It's sweet and it's bitter. It's silly and confusing and incredible. Love is lazy. Love is effort. It's honest but it lies too. It's imperfect, it's pure, it's blind, it's true, it's sexy, and I could go on forever but, really,[B] [COLOR=Plum]love is all [I]that[/I][/COLOR][/B].

[COLOR=Plum][B]*corniest post ever*[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE][/COLOR]

[...]

For me.... I like to liken love to hope..... when all else fails... one tends to cling to hope.... for me... when everything around me falls a part... I look to love... and to those I love... to save me.

While... I can't say I've ever been able to benifit from the gifts love is suppose to bring... I have loved dearly. I've loved dearly... and held on for as long as I possibly can... without a returning of love. Does this hurt me? more than anything.... does that make love evil? .... I can't say it does.. and in everything I have been through.... I come to realize one major aspect of love..... love is long suffering... it bears all things... believes all things... endures.. all things.... These words are firmly etched in my heart.... and I guess... that... would be my definition of love... something... that keeps the body alive... and hopefully... as long as I put my trust in love, it will carry me through.

[Excel]

As a book worm I would like to use several meanings from the dictionary:

A deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward a person, such as that arising from kinship, recognition of attractive qualities, or a sense of underlying oneness.
A feeling of intense desire and attraction toward a person with whom one is disposed to make a pair; the emotion of sex and romance.

Sexual passion.
Sexual intercourse.
A love affair.
An intense emotional attachment, as for a pet or treasured object.
A person who is the object of deep or intense affection or attraction; beloved. Often used as a term of endearment.
An expression of one's affection: Send him my love.

A strong predilection or enthusiasm: a love of language.
The object of such an enthusiasm: The outdoors is her greatest love.
Love Mythology. Eros or Cupid.
often Love Christianity. Charity.
Sports. A zero score in tennis

Now this defenition can't help you define love cause all of us have a different meanig for it...Love for me is something you feel for someone deeply, is the feeling you get when you want to do something no matter what to make the person you feel you love happy.Of course there is different kind of loves.
[COLOR=Red]Family Love: You care for them cause they are the people who you known all of you life, they have taken care of you and let you inside their hearts beacause you are one of them.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=RoyalBlue]Mutual Love:this is the love you feel and are also given back from somebody who also loves you.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=Purple]Simple Love: something you feel for a friend or a pet, stuff or people like that.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=Blue]True love:this is where some people think they have at first but sadly they are wrong. true love hurts, pleases , laughs and cries. nothing in life is hard and love is not gonna be different the love that makes it through the harships IS TRUE LOVE.[/COLOR]

LOL, I've think about this topic way to much :laugh: But I enjoy it even though love dosen't seem to go my way I know I will find it so thats what makes me think of it.

[Sinistra]

[COLOR=DarkRed][FONT=Palatino Linotype]You're all correct, and I must laugh a little on the mentioning of this.

[QUOTE]Mmm. Love. What a crazy thing to ask teenagers to define, eh?[/QUOTE]


Love: 1 a (1) : strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties (2) : attraction based on sexual desire : affection and tenderness felt by lovers (3) : affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests b : an assurance of love
2 : warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion
3 a : the object of attachment, devotion, or admiration b (1) : a beloved person : DARLING ? often used as a term of endearment (2) : British : ? used as an informal term of address
4 a : unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another: as (1) : the fatherly concern of God for humankind (2) : brotherly concern for others b : a person's adoration of God
5 : a god or personification of love
6 : an amorous episode : LOVE AFFAIR
7 : the sexual embrace : COPULATION
8 : a score of zero (as in tennis)
9 : capitalized Christian Science : GOD
- at love : holding one's opponent scoreless in tennis
- in love : inspired by affection

All this and more was mentioned in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. But really, you can't just boil it down to one thing, and Chibi Horsewoman was right in saying that this is a very broad subject. No one looks stupid for trying to dicuss it. And what makes this even better is everyone's views toward the subject. Everyone contributes and we all learn. Even for some, how to actually love.

A majority of us being teenagers, we have no clue. But then again, do most adults either? I can simply call it affection at this young age of fifteen. And this affection, well, it varies with a different being each time.

So, now, I'll stop boring all of you and leave with some questions for all of you to try and answer.

Do you really think that there is someone out there for everyone? Like a soul mate, perhaps? And that you have to just open your eyes and see? Like it could be that person living next door, or someone you met on a trip by chance? Do you think that fate and destiny have their roles in it as well?

I'm curious to hear your responses...[/FONT][/COLOR]

[Excel]

[quote]Do you really think that there is someone out there for everyone? Like a soul mate, perhaps? And that you have to just open your eyes and see? Like it could be that person living next door, or someone you met on a trip by chance? Do you think that fate and destiny have their roles in it as well?[/quote]

First question: Not truely im afraid I can say yes. :( today more and more people can't make up their minds and they think they can have everything thats out there this is where cheating comes. The true one is somone you keep in your mind to help you keep searching for someon that will come to keep you company the rest of your life. But this is also something the one should choose they belive that they is someone out there for them let them be.

Second question:^ same as up there

third question: Your solemate, true one, Will come first in a feeling not in vision.....(don't listen to me I don't know this i'm just making it up as a I go) he could always start as a friend or someone you meet in a second the world is full of surprises you never know.

Last:Fate, destiny? there is no such a thing only time that is what love is made up and how love will be at a give time.

[AnarchyMan]

[QUOTE=TOTALIMMORTAL]Here's a simple way of putting it: [B]Anything you'd die for, you love.[/B]

I think that's pretty much accurate. I can't really think of any exceptions, but correct me if I'm wrong. I myself, am in love. I know a lot of you will say that I'm too young to even know what love is, I am only 14, but I do. You'll definitely know what it is when you find it. So here's something else. Love can and is different for every single person, so there's not one single answer for what love is. Love is what you make of it, and you'll know what to make of it when you find it.[/QUOTE]


first off, you are never too young to be in love or to express it. im only 15, and i kno wut love is better than any adult i kno. any1 who tells any1 else they are to young to be in love dont kno wut love really is.

second, love only comes once in life, true love that is, and when you find it, you may not no it, i didnt, it sat right next to me in the lunch room, and in class for so long b4 i ever expected anything, now, there is no1 else in the world but us. its hard, but when you find it its worth it

in a nut shell, if you can fully explain love, your not in love...

[Morpheus]

[QUOTE=Jung-Woo]1.Do you really think that there is someone out there for everyone? Like a soul mate, perhaps?
2.And that you have to just open your eyes and see? Like it could be that person living next door, or someone you met on a trip by chance?
3. Do you think that fate and destiny have their roles in it as well?[/QUOTE]
1. I have no idea.
2. That is entirely possible. It could be someone nextdoor you never really noticed. or someone you accidentally bump in to. It's just a matter of chance.
3. No, I don't believe in fate. I don't give up, but I know some that give up when the going gets tough because they think it is "meant to be". I say screw that, I'm not going to just give in.

[Retribution]

I can't remeber the verse, but it says "Love is patient, love is kind." Which is pretty good... but that doesn't really explain [i]what[/i] love exactly is.

I believe it's a feeling of deep devotion, respect, and/or a strong affection felt. Of course, these aren't really good defintions, but whatever.

To Jung-Woo:

1. No. People live lonely all their lives.
2. Maybe... and yes, "you find love in all the wrong places" I suppose is how it goes.
3. If you believe in fate and destiny. Some people don't.