Ian Mcewan Quotes

People think love is an emotion. Love is good sense.

I honestly can't think of many more truly romantic gestures than a really well-thought-through prenuptial agreement.

I need a man with a good sense of humor and a kind heart.

To persons of spirit like ourselves the only happy marriage is that which is based on a firm foundation of almost incessant quarrelling.

Relationships are the foundation of leadership.

Love is the most practical thing in the world. To love, to be kind, not to be greedy, not to be ambitious, not to be influenced by people but to think for yourself-these are all very practical things, and they will bring about a practical, happy society.

It is not enough ... simply to surrender oneself brainlessly to love, when it knocks at the door, one must also calculate because of later life, which does sometimes follow.

Emotion is the foundation of reason.

The structure of human betterment cannot be built upon foundations of materialism or business, but upon the bedrock of individual character in free men and women.

My love is founded on esteem, the only foundation that can make the passion last.

B.O.B. and I have a longtime understanding - when we're done with each other, we know exactly which one of us has been used, and it isn't me. Good night Gideon.

You all seem to think that you should marry someone when you feel this intense emotion, which you call love. And then you expect that the love will fade over time, as life gets harder. When what you should do is find yourself a nice enough fellow and let real love develop over years and births and deaths and so on.

No one is mediocre who has good sense and good sentiments.

This is a huge thing if you are going to have a positive impact on your spouse. You have to not only realize this, but you have to practice this.

Is love an art? Then it requires knowledge and effort.

Love me litle, love me long.

If love is in our hearts, every thought, word, and deed can bring about a miracle. Because understanding is the very foundation of love, words and actions that emerge from our love are always helpful.

People take love's continuity for granted, just as they take their body's continuity for granted. They don't realize that the best thing about love is its regular presence. Once you can establish that, it's an added foundation to your life.

My love affair with (him) had a wonderful element of romance to it, which I will always cherish. But it was not an infatuation, and here’s how I can tell: because I did not demand that he become my Great Emancipator or my Source of All Life, nor did I immediately vanish into that man’s chest cavity like a twisted, unrecognizable, parasitical homonculus. During our long period of courtship, I remained intact within my own personality, and I allowed myself to meet (him) for who he was.

What prevents a man's speaking good sense with a smile on his face?

These teenager looks aren't going to last forever, and that there are much better foundation to build a life upon than how attractive you are.

For the purposes of life and conduct, and society, a little good sense is surely better than all this genius, and a little good humour than this extreme sensibility.

The mentoring program [of the Steve Harvey foundation] is to teach young boys the principles of manhood.

Why is it so difficult to love wisely, so easy to love too well?

Intelligence alone is not nearly enough when it comes to acting wisely.