Love was an emotion that could be expressed about any lifeform, inanimate object, time period, or spatial area. It, particularly romantic love, was typically associated with affection, compassion, happiness, and when between people, sexual attraction. For Humans, it can be one of the strongest feelings one individual has for another and lead to procreation.
In 2268, Lieutenant Nyota Uhura, trying to defend tribbles, stated that Cyrano Jones had told her that "a tribble is the only love that money can buy." Captain James T. Kirk replied that "Too much of anything, Lieutenant, even love, isn't necessarily a good thing." (TOS: "The Trouble with Tribbles")
Captain Montgomery Scott once expressed his love for starships, particularly the USS Enterprise, by using an analogy about females, stating "You don't ever love a woman quite the way you did that first one." (TNG: "Relics")
Expressions of love[]
Love in media[]
Love could be expressed through artistic means. In 2373, Q hoped Captain Kathryn Janeway would be seduced with a Drabian love sonnet. (VOY: "The Q and the Grey")
Movies on the subject of love were quite common in Human society. One example was Love's Lovely Love. (ENT: "Cogenitor") I Love Lucy was a popular television show in the 1950s. (ENT: "Carbon Creek").
In the 24th century, holoprograms involving love existed like Vulcan Love Slave, and the sequels, Vulcan Love Slave, Part II: The Revenge and Vulcan Love Slave, Volume III. (DS9: "The Ascent", "Doctor Bashir, I Presume", "The Emperor's New Cloak")
Romance novels were a type of book dealing with romantic relationships. (VOY: "Worst Case Scenario", "Real Life")
Love in potions[]
In 2269, Harry Mudd tried to sell love via means of love potion crystals. Although the effects of the potion were temporarily effective, once they wore off, the resulting emotions between the involved individuals turned to hate. (TAS: "Mudd's Passion")
The Megans used their magical love philtre to attract lovers. (TAS: "The Magicks of Megas-Tu")
In the final draft script of TOS: "The Naked Time", it was said that, on Vulcan, love was considered "evil". This was evidently lessened so that, in the final version of the episode, love (in common with emotion) is instead said to be regarded "bad taste" on the planet.
Perspectives[]
"I don't think you can analyze love. It's the greatest mystery of all. No one knows why it happens or doesn't. Love is a chance combination of elements. Any one thing might be enough to keep it from igniting. A mood, a glance, a remark. And if we could define love, predict it, it would probably lose its power."
- - Neelix, "Unforgettable"
"Shon-ha'lock, love, is the most dangerous emotion of all. It produces many other emotions. Jealousy, shame, rage, grief. You must learn to suppress them all, otherwise they will consume you."
- - Vulcan Master, "Gravity"