“Whatever Our Souls Are Made Of, His and Mine Are the Same”
From windswept moors to animated clownfish, the words that make Britain swoon have been revealed — and they come from some surprising places.
A new study of 2,000 UK adults has uncovered the most romantic written lines of all time, drawing on classic literature, poetry, film and song to pinpoint the phrases that still make hearts flutter in 2026. And while the nation clearly still cherishes grand declarations of love, the research suggests many of us are quietly losing the confidence to put our own feelings into words.
Topping the poll is Charlotte Brontë’s enduring promise from Jane Eyre:
“My heart is, and always will be, yours.”
A line that has survived nearly two centuries — and still beats every modern text message hands down.
Close behind is the unexpectedly tender “When I look at you, I’m home”, spoken in Pixar’s Finding Nemo, proving romance doesn’t have to come wrapped in corsets and candlelight to resonate.
Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights also secured its place in the nation’s heart, with Catherine Earnshaw’s declaration of spiritual unity — “Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same” — continuing to define literary passion at its most intense.
Cinema lovers favoured sweeping, cinematic vows too. Arwen’s immortal line from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring — “I would rather spend one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone” — ranked among the UK’s favourites, while romcom staples from Notting Hill, Bridget Jones’s Diary and Jerry Maguire also featured prominently.
Poetry still holds its power. Robert Browning’s hopeful “Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be” was chosen by 16% of respondents, while lines by Shakespeare, Maya Angelou, John Keats and E. E. Cummings proved that verse written centuries ago can still feel intensely personal.
Romance on the Page — A Dying Art?
Yet despite our love for beautifully written declarations, the study reveals a growing reluctance to create our own.
More than a third of Gen Z (35%) and over a quarter of millennials (27%) admit they have never written words of love. An overwhelming 91% agree that writing is no longer a common way to express how we feel romantically.
For many, it’s not a lack of feeling — it’s fear.
More than half (53%) say they would feel silly or awkward writing a love letter, while 22% say they simply wouldn’t know where to begin.
Instead, modern romance has shifted formats. Among under-40s, showing love now means sending memes (37%), posting each other on Instagram (32%), making couple TikToks (28%), or even working out together “for the ’gram” (23%).
And when words are required? Nearly three in ten Brits (28%) admit they’ll be turning to AI to write their Valentine’s message this year.
Still Hopeless Romantics at Heart
Despite all that, the appetite for romance hasn’t vanished — far from it.
A resounding 60% of people of all ages say they would love it if their partner wrote them something personal and heartfelt.
To help reignite the art of the love letter, LEGO Botanicals are hosting a love-letter writing masterclass on 3 February at The Notting Hill Bookshop, led by actor Caroline Quentin.
Caroline says: “Can an emoji really convey as much heartfelt meaning as a thoughtful love letter? Will a quick text be remembered as long as a deeply felt sentiment penned in a card?
“I’m so happy to be joining the LEGO Group to bring back proper love letters. Who knows — I may even put pen to paper to remind my darling husband that I love pink roses and daisies, and that after more than twenty years, I still adore him.”
Perhaps the message is simple: while the platforms may change, the power of carefully chosen words hasn’t faded — we just need the confidence to write them again.
Caroline Quentin
The 20 Most Romantic Words of All Time
(As voted by the UK)
- “My heart is, and always will be, yours.” – Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë – 20%
- “When I look at you, I’m home.” – Finding Nemo – 18%
- “I would rather spend one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone.” – The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – 18%
- “I don’t want to close my eyes, I don’t want to fall asleep, ’cause I’d miss you, baby.” – I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing, Aerosmith – 18%
- “You are still the one I run to.” – You’re Still the One, Shania Twain – 17%
- “Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be.” – Robert Browning – 16%
- “In fact, I like you very much. Just as you are.” – Bridget Jones’s Diary – 15%
- “It was a million tiny little things…” – Sleepless in Seattle – 13%
- “You make me want to be a better man.” – As Good As It Gets – 13%
- “Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” – Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë – 12%
- “In all the world, there is no heart for me like yours.” – Maya Angelou – 12%
- “I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy…” – Notting Hill – 11%
- “My bounty is as boundless as the sea…” – Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet – 11%
- “I cannot exist without you…” – John Keats – 11%
- “You had me at hello.” – Jerry Maguire – 11%
- “Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind…” – Shakespeare – 10%
- “I carry your heart with me.” – E. E. Cummings – 10%
- “At last, my love has come along.” – At Last, Etta James – 9%
- “I fell in love the way you fall asleep…” – The Fault in Our Stars, John Green – 9%
- “I hate the way I don’t hate you…” – 10 Things I Hate About You – 8%