[Arthur McGowan]

Typical Ayn Rand stuff. Attacking a Straw Man.

SOME love is altruistic, in the sense of going against instinct. But no orthodox Christian (which is what these Ayn Rand people imagine they are attacking) holds that love has nothing to do with delighting in the qualities of the beloved, whether spouse or close friend.

[Argus]

Love is, essentially, putting the interests of the loved one above your own. It is the opposite of pride, which puts the self first before all others. This may entail sacrifice or self-denial (they are not identical), depending on the circumstances. Why is this difficult to understand?