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The Economic Times
The Economic Times
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Quote of the Day by Japanese Philosopher Jakucho Setouchi: "A person who has never suffered for love has..."

Quote of the Day by Jakucho Setouchi: In today's age of fast-paced social media and casual hookups on dating apps, love seems to have lost its real meaning. And in such times, the quote of the day by Japanese philosopher Jakucho Setouchi, “A person who has never suffered for love has never truly lived," gives a deep meaning about the timeless truth about human relationships. The quote simply means that real love cannot be completely painless.

When we love someone deeply, we are bound to become emotionally vulnerable and it means we might have to go through brutal heartbreaks, disappointment, longing, sacrifice and sometimes loss. According to Setouchi, these painful experiences don't mean that the person has failed in love but evidence that he/she has truly experienced life at its deepest level.

ALSO READ: Quote of the Day by Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu

Quote of the Day

“A person who has never suffered for love has never truly lived.”

What does the quote mean?

The quote of the day means suffering in love is natural and a part of being human. People who have truly loved someone in their life often carry emotional scars because honest and genuine love requires attachment, trust and emotional investment. Love becomes shallow or meaningless without emotional risk.

ALSO READ: Quote of the day by Bruce Willis

The quote challenges modern ideas about love and relationships that they should be easy, convenient or instantly replaceable. Nowadays, people keep relationships casual and avoid commitment and emotional discomfort and even leave their partners as soon as the difficulty arrives. But this quote reminds us that meaningful love often comes with emotional struggle, and that struggle helps people grow emotionally and spiritually.

While love teaches us patience, empathy, forgiveness and resilience, even heartbreak can teach us wisdom and make us emotionally mature. That is why Setouchi sees suffering not as the opposite of love, but as evidence that the love was real.

Why this quote feels especially relevant today

The quote is very much relevant today in the age of dating apps and digital relationships, where many people are more connected than ever before, yet emotionally disconnected at the same time. People are quick to judge and they have endless choices and temporary conversations rather than deep emotional bonds in today's modern dating culture.

Emotional intimacy is becoming harder to build as people quickly move from one conversation to another with just a swipe, making relationships feel disposable. Many fear vulnerability because they believe someone “better” or "perfect" is always one click away.

Setouchi’s quote is relevant today because it reminds people that love is not supposed to be effortless entertainment. Real love demands emotional honesty, patience and the willingness to experience pain alongside joy.

The “perfect match” illusion on dating apps

For example, a young man spends months talking to someone on a dating app. The man and the woman text every day, share personal stories and build emotional attachment. But the moment misunderstandings appear or the relationship becomes emotionally demanding, one person suddenly ghosts the other and moves on to new matches.

This situation has become common in modern dating culture. Many people now only demand attention rather than the responsibility of emotional commitment. Setouchi’s quote of the day becomes powerful real relationships require people to stay, talk it out and work through emotional difficulty instead of escaping it instantly.

Fear of vulnerability in digital relationships

A woman who has been hurt in past relationships uses dating apps casually for years but avoids serious attachment because she fears heartbreak. She enjoys conversations, validation and temporary companionship, but never allows herself to become emotionally vulnerable. Over time, she realizes that despite countless matches and interactions, she still feels emotionally empty and disconnected.

This example again reflects the deeper meaning of Setouchi’s quote. A person who never risks emotional pain may protect themselves from heartbreak, but they may also miss the depth, intimacy and emotional transformation that true love can bring.

The deeper lesson behind the quote

Jakucho Setouchi's quote does not glorify toxic relationships or emotional suffering but it says that love naturally involves emotional risk because human beings care deeply. In a world where many relationships are shaped by algorithms, instant messaging and short attention spans, Setouchi’s words encourage people to rediscover emotional depth and build true intimacy. The words remind us that love is not measured by how painless it is, but by how deeply it transforms us. And according to Setouchi, those emotional experiences are what make a person truly alive.

Other powerful quotes by Jakucho Setouchi

“There are wounds time cannot erase, but they teach us how deeply we once felt.”

“People cannot live entirely alone. We survive because someone, somewhere, remembers us.”

“True strength is not found in power, but in compassion.”

“Human beings are weak, and because of that weakness, we continue searching for meaning.”

“No matter how painful the past is, life still asks us to move forward.”

“A kind word can save a person who is silently struggling.”

“The older I grow, the more I understand that happiness is often very simple.”

“Loneliness teaches people truths they can never learn in crowds.”

“Forgiving someone does not erase the wound, but it frees the heart from carrying hatred forever.”

“Life becomes lighter when we stop trying to control everything.”

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