One can promise actions, but not feelings, for the latter are involuntary. He who promises to love for
ever or hate forever or be forever faithful to someone is promising
something that is not in his power. He can, however, promise
those actions that are usually the consequence of love, hatred, or
faithfulness, but that can also spring from other motives: for there
are several paths and motives to an action. A promise to love
someone forever, then, means, "As long as I love you I will render
unto you the actions of love; if I no longer love you, you will
continue to receive the same actions from me, if for other motives." Thus the illusion remains in the minds of one's fellow men
that the love is unchanged and still the same.
One is promising that the semblance of love will endure, then, when without self-deception one vows everlasting love.
Nietzsche, Human, All Too Human, 58
One is promising that the semblance of love will endure, then, when without self-deception one vows everlasting love.
Nietzsche, Human, All Too Human, 58
