Like is Greater Than Love

Do I like thee or love thee?

A good friend once told me that he really likes me and that to like is harder than to love. I had to really think about it for a while to get it. You see, we can love a car, a drink, a jacket or any inanimate object. We can love an actor, an athlete or a celebrity; but liking someone is different. Liking is more broad than loving. For instance, you can love someone because they’re funny, or smart, or a great conversationist. But when you become great friends with someone, it’s based on many important factors, such as loyalty, trust, dependability, compatibility, etc. Love could be one factor, but like is based on a foundation that’s made of many qualities that is important to us. The kind of qualities we look for and value in a friend. Love is like a flaming fire that can extinguish just as fast as it starts. Love comes and goes, fades in and out. But when you like someone, it’s like a simmering warm pot on the stove.

Nietzsche has a saying: “Lack of love does not make for unhappy marriages, lack of friendship does.” If you like someone for the person they are, chances are the foundation exists. I prefer to be liked than loved by you.