I guess I'm a bit of a romantic.

In the simple yet profound words of Felicity Jones, "I guess I'm a bit of a romantic," we are invited to reflect on the timeless allure of romanticism—that profound yearning for beauty, love, and ideals that transcend the mundane. Jones’ self-reflection is a quiet acknowledgment of a disposition that seeks meaning in the world, a longing for connection that goes beyond practicality and into the realm of the ideal. To be a romantic is to believe in the possibility of something more, to envision a world where love, passion, and truth are intertwined, not just as fleeting moments, but as the very foundation of existence.

The ancients too understood the power of romanticism, though their interpretations were often more entwined with fate, the gods, and heroic deeds. In Greek mythology, love was not just an emotion, but a force capable of transforming the world. The story of Pygmalion and Galatea, where the sculptor falls in love with a statue and wishes it to life, embodies the romantic dream of transcending the ordinary. Pygmalion’s belief in the ideal woman, so perfect in his eyes that she existed only in art, reflects the romantic notion that love can create the beauty we envision, and through love, the impossible becomes reality. The very act of loving something idealized is an expression of the romantic spirit—one that elevates ordinary life into something extraordinary.

Similarly, in Shakespeare's works, the notion of romantic love often begins as an overwhelming, almost divine force—as seen in Romeo and Juliet. Their love is portrayed not as practical or rational, but as a passionate, all-consuming force that defies social boundaries and destiny itself. Despite its tragic end, the romanticism in their story speaks to the idea that love can be both transcendent and transformative—qualities that define what it means to be a romantic. In this sense, the romantic spirit is not concerned with mere convenience or the pragmatics of life, but seeks to grasp the beauty and potential that exist in moments of profound connection.

In the Roman tradition, love was similarly entwined with both the divine and the mortal. The story of Dido and Aeneas, though ultimately tragic, reflects a romanticism in the sense that Dido’s love for Aeneas becomes a force that shapes her entire life and the future of her kingdom. Though Aeneas must leave her to fulfill his fate, the love they share remains central to the story’s emotional depth. Their love is an ideal, yet it is not immune to the forces of destiny and duty, showing the complexity that lies at the heart of romantic longing: the pull between love and larger, sometimes tragic, realities.

The romantic spirit that Jones alludes to is not merely an emotion, but a philosophy of life, a belief that love can and should aspire to transcend the ordinary, that it should strive to reach a place where the soul can connect with something greater than itself. Romanticism, as an idea, has often been misunderstood as purely sentimental, as a longing for the unattainable or the idealized. Yet, as history has shown us, romantic love is both a beauty and a struggle, an expression of deep truth about the human condition. When Jones calls herself a "bit of a romantic," she is embracing this deeper truth: the idea that love, while often imperfect, is one of the most powerful and transformative forces we can experience.

The lesson in Jones’ simple admission is one of hope and aspiration. To be a romantic is not to live in a fantasy, but to recognize that love is one of the few forces that transcends the mundane, giving meaning and purpose to our lives. It is about seeing the world through the lens of possibility, where what we desire in love and life is worth striving for, even when the outcome is uncertain. The romantic spirit encourages us to be vulnerable, to believe in beauty despite the chaos of the world, and to dream of connections that elevate us beyond the ordinary. Romantics are those who believe in something more, and it is this belief that often leads to the most profound and meaningful transformations.

In your own life, embrace the romantic in all its forms—be it in love, art, or your dreams. Allow yourself to dream big, to believe that there is beauty in the world that is worth pursuing. Yet, understand that being a romantic does not mean ignoring the realities of life, but rather seeing life’s challenges through a lens of hope and possibility. When you face obstacles, ask yourself: how can this challenge be turned into a moment of growth? How can love elevate this moment to something deeper? Remember that the romantic spirit is about finding beauty even in the most difficult times, and that through love and aspiration, you can create a world that is richer, fuller, and more meaningful.