Esther Perel in her book "Mating in Captivity" on how romantics and realists view love and passion:

"The romantics refuse a life without passion; they swear that they'll never give up on true love. They are the perennial seekers, looking for the person with whom desire will never fizzle. Every time desire does wane, they conclude that love is gone. If eros is in decline, love must be on its deathbed. They mourn the loss of excitement and fear settling down

At the opposite extreme are the realists. They say that enduring love is more important than hot sex, and that passion makes people do stupid things. It's dangerous, it creates havoc, and it's a weak foundation for marriage. In the immortal words of Marge Simpson, 'Passion is for the teenagers and foreigners.' For the realists, maturity prevails. The initial excitement grows into something else -- deep love, mutual respect, shared history, and companionship. Diminishing desire is inescapable..."