... and thereafter, not only God but also human beings in themselves are capable of authentic love. The pursuit of love between man and woman was seen as a splendid ideal that ennobles both the lover and the beloved. It was something more than libidinal sexuality and involved sophisticated and highly refined...

...This chapter discusses how love develops from a love of things to a love of persons and, finally, to a love of ideals. Although the three concepts overlap, it is naturally easy to distinguish one from the other. The love of things is never mutual and things are not expected to respond as a lover...