Key Difference – Love vs Friendship
The key difference between love and friendship is a question that has been pondered over for a long time. It is very easy to confuse the two though even unconsciously neither is used interchangeably for the other. We know how to distinguish our love from our friends, but we do not know how to define the two. Even those interested in the topic confuse themselves while explaining to the others the fine line that separates love from friendship or friendship from love? So confusing the two terms are that it even becomes difficult to explain which a subset of which is!
What is Love?
It is easy to describe love as an emotion being present between two people for each other. It is an uncontrollable emotion that exists between a mother and her child, a brother and a sister, a husband and a wife, etc. The basis of love is that it only exists between pairs.
Love is also defined to be an emotion that completely takes over one person and compels them to act in ways they may not have otherwise even thought of doing so. It may compel one to sacrifice everything for someone they love, or be so emotionally attached or emotionally dependent on the other that a void is left when the other leaves.
The emotion of love compels one to sacrifice a lot; friendship is a relationship based more on trust. In love, though the special attachment is present, it is not enough for one to trust the other person. Therefore there arises that feeling of insecurity in love.
What is Friendship?
A friendship is a relationship that one has with many people at one time. A group of people can be confidants for someone who they can talk to and share fun moments with. In friendship, whenever the need arises, in situations of emergency, for instance, the friends are always there to help. In friendship, a lot of things need not be explained to our friends. There are certain things that friends just understand and may not need explanations for. There is a deep connection amongst friends, kind of like telepathy that makes their mind run in sync.
Unlike Love, which is a feeling shared between two people whereas friendship is a relationship, one can have with plenty at one time. Some may be called good friends, some just friends and other acquaintances who you are delighted to see every time, but it doesn’t make your heart beat fast or cause butterflies in your stomach like love does. It is said that in love, two people having the most opposite of personalities have that attraction between them but in friendship, it is the case that all friends have similar tastes and personas.
Though both love and friendship will remain to be confusing terms for generations to come, both are much-cherished emotions and relationships that cause a delight in a person’s life when present.
What is the Difference Between Love and Friendship?
Definitions of Love and Friendship:
Love: Love is an intense emotional attachment towards a person; it is also defined by many as a deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude towards a person.
Friendship: Friendship is defined as a voluntary, close, and enduring social relationship between two or more persons.
Characteristics of Love and Friendship:
Tastes:
Love: In love, two people having the most opposite of personalities have that attraction between them.
Friendship: In friendship, it is the case that all friends have similar tastes and personas.
Relationship:
Love: Love is only shared between two people.
Friendship: Friendship can be shared among many people.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Couple 01” by 日:Muramasa – 日:Muramasa 自身による撮影. [CC BY-SA 3.0] via Wikimedia Commons
2. “East Asian friends” by Fernando de Sousa [CC BY-SA 2.0] via Wikimedia Commons
