New Delhi, May 21 -- Love has inspired poetry, wars, films and entire belief systems. Yet some of the oldest wisdom traditions repeatedly warn against allowing love to become the centre of one's existence. A Chinese proverb captures this tension with striking clarity: "Living with love is happy, but living for love is foolish."

At first glance, the saying may sound cynical about romance. It is not. The proverb does not reject love, relationships or emotional connection. Instead, it draws a sharp distinction between experiencing love and depending entirely on it for meaning, validation and identity.

In an era shaped by dating apps, social media validation and idealised relationship culture, the proverb feels unusually modern. It speaks t...