Hermann Hesse reminds us that real love begins where perfection ends—when we embrace another’s flaws as part of their beauty.
“When you like someone, you like them in spite of their faults. When you love someone, you love them with their faults.” ~ Hermann Hesse
“Cuando te gusta alguien, lo quieres a pesar de sus defectos. Cuando amas a alguien, lo amas con sus defectos.” ~ Hermann Hesse
当你喜欢一个人时，你会喜欢他，即使他有缺点。当你爱一个人时，你会爱他，即使他有缺点。——赫尔曼·黑塞
Reflection
Hermann Hesse’s words uncover the quiet truth about love: it’s not admiration for what’s flawless, but devotion to what’s real. To like someone is to overlook their imperfections; to love them is to see those imperfections as part of their soul’s design. Love, at its deepest, asks us to stay when it’s inconvenient, to forgive when it’s difficult, and to see beauty where others see cracks. True connection blooms not in ideal circumstances but in shared vulnerability and gentle acceptance. When we love another with their faults, we affirm our own humanity—imperfect, resilient, and capable of grace.
Question for Readers:
How have you learned to love someone more deeply because of—not in spite of—their imperfections?