30 Romantic French Quotes About Love (with English Translations)

French is often said to be the language of love. 

So of course there are many beautiful French quotes about love! 

Get romantic with some profound expressions of love through timeless quotes from renowned French thinkers and writers.

From Blaise Pascal’s philosophical musings to the poetic verses of Rosemonde Gérard, each quote offers a uniquely French perspective on the nature of love.

Contents

• French Quotes About Love
• • “Le cœur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît point.” — Blaise Pascal
  • “L’amour est comme la fièvre, il naît et s’éteint sans que la volonté y ait la moindre part.” — Stendhal
  • “La mesure de l’amour, c’est d’aimer sans mesure.” — Saint Augustin
  • “Car, vois-tu, chaque jour je t’aime davantage, aujourd’hui plus qu’hier et bien moins que demain.” — Rosemonde Gérard
  • “Entre deux cœurs qui s’aiment, nul besoin de paroles.” — Marceline Desbordes-Valmore
  • “Oh ! Si tu pouvais lire dans mon coeur, tu verrais la place où je t’ai mise !” — Gustave Flaubert
  • “Il n’y a qu’un bonheur dans la vie, c’est d’aimer et d’être aimé.” — George Sand
  • “L’amour est comme le vent, nous ne savons pas d’où il vient.” — Honoré de Balzac
  • “Quand on n’a que l’amour / Pour tracer un chemin / Et forcer le destin / À chaque carrefour.” — Jacques Brel
  • “Aimer, ce n’est pas se regarder l’un l’autre, c’est regarder ensemble dans la même direction.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
  • “Il n’y a qu’une seule sorte d’amour, mais il y a mille copies différentes.” — François de La Rochefoucauld
  • “L’amour fait les plus grandes douceurs et les plus sensibles infortunes de la vie.” — Madeleine de Scudéry 
• Romantic French Phrases

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

French Quotes About Love

“Le cœur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît point.” — Blaise Pascal

English translation: The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of.

This quote by philosopher Blaise Pascal is often equated to the English phrase “the heart wants what it wants.” Fun fact: While it’s frequently used in connection to relationships and how love is driven by emotions rather than logic, Pascal was actually talking about religion when he penned the quote!

“L’amour est comme la fièvre, il naît et s’éteint sans que la volonté y ait la moindre part.”
— Stendhal

English translation: Love is like fever, it arises and passes away without the will having the slightest part in it.

Marie-Henri Beyle, known by his pseudonym Standhal, wrote this observation in his 1822 piece, “On Love.” Through his writing, he tries to analyze the different types and stages of love, and how it makes us feel. This musing states that we love who we love, and there’s not much we can do about it. 

“La mesure de l’amour, c’est d’aimer sans mesure.” — Saint Augustin

English translation: The measure of love is to love without measure.

Some types of love are simply without bounds. This quote was said by Augustine of Hippo, also known as Saint Augustine (though I’ve also seen it attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi). Once again, Saint Augustin was talking about religious love here, but the quote is a beautifully poetic way to describe unconditional love of any kind. 

“Car, vois-tu, chaque jour je t’aime davantage, aujourd’hui plus qu’hier et bien moins que demain.” — Rosemonde Gérard

English translation: Because, you see, every day I love you more, today more than yesterday and much less than tomorrow.

This beautiful quote comes from the poet and playwright Louise-Rose-Étiennette Gérard, better known as Rosemonde Gérard. It comes from a poem she wrote to her husband in 1889, expressing her ever-growing love for him. How romantic!

“Entre deux cœurs qui s’aiment, nul besoin de paroles.” — Marceline Desbordes-Valmore

English translation: No words are needed between two hearts in love.

This romantic sentiment by the 18th-century poet and novelist is a reminder that love needs no explanation or words. The adage comes from one of Valmore’s gorgeous poetry, which was born from her quite tumultuous life. 

“Oh ! Si tu pouvais lire dans mon coeur, tu verrais la place où je t’ai mise !” — Gustave Flaubert

English translation: Oh, if you could read in my heart, you would see the place I have put you!

Gustave Flaubert was a novelist but this particular quote comes from a love letter he wrote to his beloved Louise Colet in 1846. The rest of the letter is just as heart-wrenchingly beautiful and worth a full read.

“Il n’y a qu’un bonheur dans la vie, c’est d’aimer et d’être aimé.” — George Sand

English translation: There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved.

Don’t let the masculine name fool you: George Sand was a female poet in the 19th century, whose name was actually Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin de Francueil. Sand wrote largely about the love and tranquility of the countryside. This quote from her is such a simple sentiment, but it’s so true!

“L’amour est comme le vent, nous ne savons pas d’où il vient.” — Honoré de Balzac

English translation: Love is like the wind, we never know where it will come from.

This quote from famous French novelist Honoré de Balzac is a reminder that you don’t choose love. At the end of the day, you have no say in who you fall in love with. 

“Quand on n’a que l’amour / Pour tracer un chemin / Et forcer le destin / À chaque carrefour.” — Jacques Brel

English translation: When you only have love / To forge a path / And force destiny / At every crossroads.

These are some of the lyrics from Jacques Brel’s song, “Quand on n’a que l’amour.” Remember that love can give strength and purpose even in difficult times! Listen to the full song here or play it for your loved one over a romantic dinner.

“Aimer, ce n’est pas se regarder l’un l’autre, c’est regarder ensemble dans la même direction.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

English translation: To love is not to look at each other, it is to look together in the same direction.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is best known for his delightful children’s novel for adults, “The Little Prince,” but this quote comes from a lesser-known work of his, “Wind, Sand and Stars.” It’s less a romantic quote and more of a word of advice, especially for young or new lovers: The most important part of your relationship isn’t gazing lovingly at one another, but working together as a unit. 

“Il n’y a qu’une seule sorte d’amour, mais il y a mille copies différentes.” — François de La Rochefoucauld

English translation: There is only one sort of love, but there are a thousand different copies.

This quote comes from a collection of Maxims by Francois de La Rochefoucauld, a French writer and moralist who lived in the 17th century. Its meaning isn’t as clear-cut as some of the others in this post. You can take it to mean that there’s only one real love, and other loves you feel don’t compare. Or it can mean that love is universal, and it comes in many different forms and types. 

“L’amour fait les plus grandes douceurs et les plus sensibles infortunes de la vie.” — Madeleine de Scudéry 

English translation: Love makes life’s sweetest pleasures and worst misfortunes.

We’ve been focusing on the rosy side of love, but as much as love is a wonderful emotion, it’s also a double-edged sword. I can only hope that you never have to experience the misfortune side of love!

Romantic French Phrases

The French language is a veritable fountain of romance! The phrases below will help you navigate the most romantic conversations in the language of love:

• Je t’aime. (I love you.)
• Tu es mon amour. (You are my love.)
• Mon cœur bat pour toi. (My heart beats for you.)
• Tu me rends heureux. (You make me happy.)
• Tu es ma joie de vivre. (You are my joy of living.)
• Tu es l’amour de ma vie. (You are the love of my life.)
• Tu es ma moitié. (You are my other half.)
• Tu es mon rêve devenu réalité. (You are my dream come true.)
• Je t’adore. (I adore you.)
• Tu es la lumière de ma vie. (You are the light of my life.)
• Je suis fou de toi. (I’m crazy about you.)
• Tu es tout pour moi. (You are everything to me.)
• J’ai besoin de toi. (I need you.)
• Je te veux près de moi. (I want you close to me.)
• Je suis amoureux de toi. (I am in love with you.)
• Ton sourire me rend heureux. (Your smile makes me happy.)
• Ton amour me fait vibrer. (Your love makes me feel alive.)
• Mon amour pour toi est éternel. (My love for you is eternal.)

And if you need any more ways to express your love, check out this thorough guide to saying “I love you” in French: 

Speak the language of love with these timeless French expressions and quotes about love!