And the true order of going, or being led by another, to the things of love, is to begin from the beauties of earth and mount upwards for the sake of that other beauty, using these steps only, and from one going on to two, and from two to all fair forms to fair practices, and from fair practices to fair notions, until from fair notions he arrives at the notion of absolute beauty, and at last knows what the essence of beauty is. Aristotle Aristotle was a fan. The pleasure of the eye is the beginning of love. Augustine I was in love with loving. I out of myself, and there I searched for you.
Love is a greater law to itself.
Niccolo Machiavelli Machiavelli had a typical view on the matter. Since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved.