Love

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Black and white photo of a man and woman in swimwear relaxing on a sandy beach with rocky cliffs in the background.

Love

idea

Love shouldn’t be blind or mad. Instead, fall rationally in love

Blind, all-consuming love goes against your interests and impedes your flourishing. Submit your love to rational scrutiny

by Berit Brogaard

A painting of a woman sitting at a table with a glass of beer, a cigarette, and a contemplative expression in a café setting.

Love

idea

Why it can be sublime to love someone who doesn’t love you back

Unrequited love might be bitter and painful, but it is also the ultimate expression of your humanity. Don’t fight it

by Alexandra Gustafson

Silhouette of a person looking at a pop art painting of a crying woman.

Emotion regulation

guide

How to ease the pain of heartache

You’re experiencing a profound form of grief that can make you physically ill. These steps will give you a chance to heal

by Ziella Bryars

Close-up of a colourful, abstract wool sculpture resembling a face with various textures and fibres extending outward.

Love

film

Making love strange to imagine it anew – a startling, award-winning animation

Directed by Anushka Naanayakkara

Photo of two people on a train reading Metro newspapers with headlines about royalty and sports transfers.

Love

idea

What I’ve learned about relationships as an agony uncle

I am an agony uncle. This is what I’ve learned about men, women and how relationships work in my 10 years of giving advice

by James McConnachie

Photo of two people at a dinner table laughing heartily with wine glasses and a plate in the foreground.

Communication and language

idea

Why it takes humour to sustain a long-term relationship

Maintaining a long and happy relationship requires a specific skillset. Learning to laugh at yourself and together is key

by Enrico Gnaulati

Black and white photo of a couple embracing with their hands intertwined behind one person’s head, set in a dimly lit space.

Sex and sexuality

guide

How to explore ethical non-monogamy

Before enjoying the freedoms of a more open relationship, get a handle on the practical and emotional complexities ahead

by Meg Wilson

Abstract illustration of a person with eyes closed, wearing glasses, surrounded by cosmic elements on a blue and black background.

Poetry

film

Enter a dreamy French surrealist poem, where love and reality never quite touch

Directed by Emma Vakarelova

A romantic 18th-century painting depicting a seated couple embracing in a lush garden scene with soft, earthy tones.

Love

idea

Working, flirting and sex: courtship in 18th-century France

Flirting, sex and affection: working-class couples courting in 18th-century France show they are not so different from today

by Julie Hardwick

Love

idea

The problem with love is deciding who’s doing the dishes

The modern rhetoric of love is all about caring and sharing, and very little about equality and justice. Can philosophy help?

by Patricia Marino

Photo of a person reading a book at a cafe table with a yellow bag and iced coffee, seen through a window.

Love

guide

How to enjoy being single

‘Happily ever after’ is a romantic myth. Defy society’s singlism and discover ways to embrace a joyful, independent life

by David Robson

Illustration of a person with curly hair, wearing large glasses and a sleeveless top, looking back over their shoulder.

Love

film

Surreal vignettes form a meditation on love in this Oscar-winning short

Directed by Alberto Mielgo