This straightforward advice suggests that in order to receive affection, one must cultivate attractive qualities. It highlights the idea that personal behavior and character are key to fostering strong, positive relationships with others.
Quote by Ovid: “If you want to be loved, be lovable.”
If you want to be loved, be lovable.
Insight
Historical Context
Ars Amatoria was a guide to the art of seduction and relationships in Roman society. This quote encapsulates Ovid's pragmatic, almost instructional approach to social interaction and gaining favor and admiration.
About the Author
Roman poet who lived 43 BCE–17 CE, best known for Metamorphoses — a sweeping epic of mythological transformation — and the Art of Love. He was one of the most prolific and influential poets of the Augustan age but was exiled by Emperor Augustus to the Black Sea coast, where he spent the rest of his life.
View all quotes by Ovid