Dear readers,

Hope my new post finds you all in good health. In this series of #RulesOfLove, we have been seeing each rule everyday from the novel “The Forty Rules of Love” by Elif Shafak.

Today we shall see the fourth rule of Love:

Intellect and Love are made of different materials. Intellect ties people in knots and risks nothing, but Love dissolves all tangles and risks everything. Intellect is always cautious and advises, “Beware too much ecstasy”, whereas Love says, “Oh, never mind! Take the plunge!”. Intellect does not easily break down, whereas Love can effortlessly reduce itself to rubble. But treasures are hidden among ruins. A broken heart hides treasures.

Perhaps this rule confuses some of you. After all, we are living in a world where intellect is considered an invaluable asset. But, how many of us were afraid of falling in love. Thoughts like “Oh I love him/her too much, what if (s)/he leaves me?” are not uncommon. The rule describes the difference between intellect and love quite well.

Moreover, if we look carefully, the rule does not ask us to leave our intellect aside. The key is, however, to find the right balance between these two powerful factors: Love and Intellect.

The last two lines invite us to visit the broken or dead parts of ourselves. When something doesn’t go well, we have the chance to look into it deeply, from a totally different perspective. By doing so, we might discover something more about ourselves.

Thanks for stopping by!

—————————————————————————————————————-

Click here for the First Rule
Click here for the Second Rule
Click here for the Third Rule