The romance of long-term partnership isn’t found in constant intensity, but in the quieter work of building a life side by side. The people who study relationships tend to agree on one thing: love isn’t something you secure once and protect from change. For long-term couples, the advice is practical as much as romantic: don’t chase sparks, build conditions. In long-term love, that redistribution isn’t just practical. Across disciplines and styles, these thinkers converge on the same quiet truth: long-term love isn’t sustained through constant happiness or perfect alignment.

Source: The Irish Times February 14, 2026 13:31 UTC