For some languages, like English, to love and to want are synonymous. But in Spanish, although some people can say it in an undifferentiated way, for others they can mean very different things. For this reason, for example, in certain couples, saying “I love you” instead of “I love you” could mean that something is wrong.
In “The Little Prince”, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry creates a dialogue between the little character and the rose that could give us some clues to understand the difference between loving and loving in a very sweet way.
“I love you,” said the Little Prince to the rose that appeared on his planet.
“I love you too,” replied the rose.
“But it’s not the same,” he replied, and continued— To want is to take possession of something, of someone. It is looking in others for what fills personal expectations of affection, of company. To want is to make our own what does not belong to us, it is to own or desire something to complete ourselves, because at some point we recognize ourselves as lacking.
This reflection on loving and wanting is also found in Buddhism, where it is explained, for example, that if we want a flower, we will cut it to take it with us; but if we love it, we will water it and take care of it so that it grows on the ground.
When we act from love, we want the other person to be happy, beyond us and our ego. We want you to live fully and grow. On the contrary, if we act from wanting, we do so from fear of loss, from possession.
For you, is it the same to say I love you or I love you? What do you think?