Love Letters – The original long distance communication

Posted on 11. Sep, 2009 by lisa in Communication, Love Quotes, Real Relationships, Trust/Jealousy

(Image Source here)

Long before computers, there was the love letter which connected couples that were in long distance relationships (though, I don’t think they called them that back then!).

Below are two letters from Napoleon Bonaparte to his wife Josephine. The letters showcase the range of both positive emotions (e.g. happiness, love, dedication) as well as some of the negative emotions that long distance can bring out in all of us (e.g. jealousy, frustration, paranoia).

Its rather reassuring to know that not much has changed in relationships in over 200 years…

Spring 1797

To Josephine,

I love you no longer; on the contrary, I detest you. you are a wretch, truly perverse, truly stupid, a real Cinderella. You never write to me at all, you do not love your husband; you know the pleasure that your letters give him yet you cannot even manage to write him half a dozen lines, dashed off in a moment! What then do you do all day, Madame? What business is so vital that it robs you of the time to write to your faithful lover? What attachment can be stifling and pushing aside the love, the tender and constant love which you promised him? Who can this wonderful new lover be who takes up your every moment, rules your days and prevents you from devoting your attention to your husband?

Beware, Josephine; one fine night the doors will be broken down and there I shall be. In truth, I am worried, my love, to have no news from you; write me a four page letter instantly made up from those delightful words which fill my heart with emotion and joy. I hope to hold you in my arms before long, when I shall lavish upon you a million kisses, burning as the equatorial sun.

Paris, December 1795

I wake filled with thoughts of you. Your portrait and the intoxicating evening which we spent yesterday have left my senses in turmoil. Sweet, incomparable Josephine, what a strange effect you have on my heart! Are you angry? Do I see you looking sad? Are you worried?… My soul aches with sorrow, and there can be no rest for you lover; but is there still more in store for me when, yielding to the profound feelings which overwhelm me, I draw from your lips, from your heart a love which consumes me with fire? Ah! it was last night that I fully realized how false an image of you your portrait gives!

You are leaving at noon; I shall see you in three hours.

Until then, mio dolce amor, a thousand kisses; but give me none in return, for they set my blood on fire.

Long Distance Love Quotes

Posted on 06. Sep, 2009 by lisa in General Relationship Advice, Love Quotes, Real Relationships

Here are some moving quotes that I came across recently:

  • Love knows not distance; it hath no continent; its eyes are for the stars.
    ~Billy Joe
  • Before I sleep and after I wake up and all the hours in between… you occupy my mind.
    ~Tennessee Williams
  • A heart truly in love never loses hope but always believes in the promise of love, no matter how long the time and how far the distance.
    ~Anonymous
  • What greater thing is there for two human souls that to feel that they are joined… to strengthen each other… to be at one with each other in silent unspeakable memories.
    ~George Eliot

Have more favourite love quotes? Comment them please :)

Long Distance Relationship Quotes

Posted on 22. Jul, 2009 by lisa in Love Quotes, Other sites

I recently came across some simple, but great quotes related to long distance relationships:

1. Absence is to love as wind is to fire; it extinguishes the small and kindles the great.
~Roger de Bussy-Rabutin

2. Laughter is the closest distance between two people.
~Victor Borge

3. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, but it sure makes the rest of you lonely.
~Charlie Brown

More of these can be found here, here and here. If you have any favorite long distance love quotes, please comment about them.