"The man that thinks he loves his mistress for her own sake is mightily mistaken"

This quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld recommends that a male who believes he loves his girlfriend for her own sake is misdirected. He implies that the guy is likely to be motivated by something besides real love. This might be a desire for power, status, or product gain. It might likewise be a need for recognition or a worry of being alone. Whatever the motivation, it is not based upon real love.

The quote indicates that a man must be honest with himself and acknowledge his real motivations. If he is not, he will be unable to genuinely love his mistress. He will be unable to value her for who she is and will rather be concentrated on what she can do for him. This is not a healthy or sustainable relationship.

The quote also recommends that a guy ought to strive to be sincere with himself and his girlfriend. He needs to be open and truthful about his sensations and motivations. This will enable him to develop a relationship based upon shared respect and understanding. Just then can he genuinely love his girlfriend for her own sake.