Twelve Ways to Say “I Love You” from Great Books

8

Last year for Valentine’s Day, I dedicated a post to my beautiful and amazing wife, including thoughts on love by well-known writers. This year, I’d like to do something similar, since she liked it so much.

I’m a reader of classic literature and something of a writer (if blogging and curriculum development count as writing), but I’m pathetically poor at expressing my love for those dearest to me. I say “I love you” on a regular basis to my wife and daughters, but that can seem just perfunctory habit. It too often feels that way. The truth is, I love my wife and girls more than they could possibly know. Maybe because I spend so much time thinking about words and evaluating writing that I am most critical of my own. Sometimes I’d rather say nothing than try to put what I feel into words and muck it up.

So, today, I’ll let others speak for me. What I present to you below are not merely quotes by great writers, but great writers speaking through great characters about their great love.

Readers, enjoy and feel free to share.

Melanie, my valentine for more than 25 years, I picked every one of these with you in mind. (My favorite is from Winnie the Pooh).

*****

Feel free to leave your comments and suggestions below!

About the Author

Brian WaskoBrian is the founder and president of WriteAtHome.com. One of his passions is to teach young people how to write better.View all posts by Brian Wasko

  1. Grace Anne
    Grace Anne06-13-2013

    Lovely list, but why is “As you wish,” from The Princess Bride not on here? It’s the most romantic thing a person could say!

  2. Sharon
    Sharon02-14-2013

    You are welcome to correct my grammar. I need it.

    • Brian Wasko
      Brian Wasko02-14-2013

      But it’s so hard to do it without intimidating other commenters. I just chalk them up to typos and oversights. I appreciate your humility though.

      For the record, you are error-free on this one! 🙂

  3. Grammar Nut
    Grammar Nut02-14-2013

    Winnie the Pooh is my “favoritest:” Disney character. That quote is so sweet.

  4. Robin
    Robin02-14-2013

    Very sweet — the Pooh one is my favorite, as well 🙂

  5. Sharon
    Sharon02-14-2013

    This is one of my favorites. When I read this in Wuthering Heights I could refrain from repeating it to my husband over and over (Only i put his name in the place of Heathcliff’s. 🙂 “Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same….. I am Heathcliff (In this case Walter)! He’s always, always in my mind: not as a pleasure, any more than I am always a pleasure to myself, but as my own being.”

    For the record. He has borrowed a quote from for Coldplay. “Look at the stars, look how they shine for you…..and all the things you do….”

    P.S. I know my grammar is bad. But I’m hoping it will improve as I read your blog. 🙂

    • Sharon
      Sharon02-14-2013

      Guess I should have proofread. I could not refrain!

    • Brian Wasko
      Brian Wasko02-14-2013

      I never correct grammar on blog comments (unless someone asks me, of course!)

      Thanks for sharing, Sharon. I almost included your Wuthering Heights quote in my list.

      Brian

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