"True love is like ghosts, which everyone talks about and few have seen"

Love, an emotion that permeates literature, philosophy, and everyday conversation, often occupies a paradoxical space in human experience. Francois de La Rochefoucauld draws a compelling parallel between true love and ghosts, evoking the ephemeral, elusive nature of what many consider the most profound human connection. Ghosts, by their essence, are creatures of stories–tales passed down, whispered about, and universally recognized but rarely, if ever, experienced firsthand. So too does true love become a subject of folklore, idealism, and longing.

Society is replete with narratives championing the transformative power of love. Stories, songs, and films depict it as the ultimate fulfillment, a destiny awaiting each person. Yet, just as reported hauntings are far more common than direct encounters with apparitions, professions of love seem to abound more frequently than the living reality of deep, unwavering, passionate affection. Many discuss their romantic aspirations or recount their search for soulmates, but few claim to have encountered that singular, undeniable connection which transcends the ordinary.

De La Rochefoucauld’s insight lies in exposing both the universal desire for true love and the paucity of its actualization. Love is romanticized, idealized, and pursued with fervor, contributing to the creation of myths surrounding its nature. The continual conversation about love reinforces its perceived ubiquity, almost as if by speaking about it often enough, one could conjure it into existence. Yet, genuine examples–the couples whose devotion endures seasons of hardship and change, the connections grounded in deep empathy and mutual respect–are uncommon.

The comparison to ghosts further highlights the intangible quality of true love. It is felt more than seen, spoken of more than understood, existing as much in longing as in fulfillment. Its rarity provokes both skepticism and hope, reminding us that some of the most cherished human ideals live primarily in our imagination and collective yearning.