Dialogues of Love

...ungrateful, or truly because the concepts of my poor intellect displease you no less than the affections of my troubled will.

SO. I cannot deny that your sweet and pure mind has more power to move me than does your amorous will; nor do I believe that I do you an injury by valuing in you that which is worth more. For if you love me (as you say), you should rather strive to quiet my intellect than to incite my appetite In this context, "appetite" refers to the appetitus sensitivus—the physical or sensory drive, as opposed to the intellectual or spiritual will.; therefore, putting all else aside, resolve these doubts of mine.

PHI. Although the contrary reasoning is ready, I must nevertheless follow your will by necessity; this comes from the law that beloved victors have imposed upon forced and conquered lovers. I say that there are some who hold an opinion entirely contrary to yours, maintaining that love and desire are in effect the same thing, because they claim that everything one desires, one also loves.

SO. They are clearly in error; for even if it is granted that everything desired is loved, it is certain that many things are loved that are not desired, as happens with all things already possessed.

PHI. You have argued correctly against them. But some others believe that love is a certain thing which contains within itself all things desired (even if not yet possessed) and likewise good things already acquired and held (which are no longer desired).

SO. Nor does this yet harmonize with me, because (as the saying goes) many things are desired which cannot be loved, because they do not yet exist; and love is of things that exist, whereas desire belongs properly to those that do not exist, just as...