“You can't really know somebody and love them at the same time”
— John Green
Simplified Meaning:
Loving someone means you often see them through a special, more positive lens, focusing on their good qualities. Truly knowing someone means understanding all parts of them, both the good and the bad. Sometimes, when you deeply know someone, including their flaws and mistakes, it can make loving them harder. For instance, a close friend you love might have habits that annoy you, but because you care for them, you choose to overlook these. On the other hand, fully knowing someone means these annoying habits are more prominent and harder to ignore. While love can make you blind to some faults, knowing someone completely removes those blind spots. If you balance both, you can aim for a deeper, honest relationship. In real life, if you start seeing someone new, you're often in the "honeymoon phase" where everything they do seems perfect. As time passes and you learn more about their background, habits, and personality, some things might come up that you didn't notice before. To apply this to a relationship, try to stay open-minded and patient. Accept that everyone has flaws but balance this acceptance with realistic expectations. This way, your love can grow stronger and more genuine, based on a complete understanding of the person, not just an idealized version of them.