Louis de Bernieres
Definition.com
Beauty is precious, you see, and the more beautiful something is, the more precious it is; and the more precious something is, the more it hurts us that it will fade away; and the more we are hurt by beauty, the more we love the world; and the more we love it, the more we are saddened that it is like finely powdered salt that runs away through the fingers, or is puffed away by the wind, or is washed away by the rain.
Definition.com
Love is a temporary madness, it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision.
Definition.com
Love is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two.
Definition.com
The Second novel is far more difficult than the first. It's like being stood stark naked in Trafalgar Square and being told to get an erection.