what is love?

The Mishneh in Pirkey Avos states that a love that is dependent upon some tangible matter,such as beauty, upon the loss of the motive , the love disappears. If the love is based upon intangibles such as that of commonality of a noble purpose,then the love lasts forever.
The examples cited are the difference between the attraction Amnon had forTamar and their love King David had for Yonason . The difficulty of this comparison is that they are totally different. The attraction a man has for a woman is a function of attraction for the purpose of having children. The love David felt for Yonason was due to the commonality of their desire for kevod shomayim -the Glory of G-d ! They are intrinsically different and cannot be compared. so why the comparison?
If the Mishneh merely wishes to bring home the point that marriage shouldn't be based upon physical beauty it should have said so. Rather, the Mishneh wishes to reveal how a marriage can last. If you keep to the physical basis for your marriage,then the love will never last. In fact,the love can be over in an instant as happened to Amnon. Therefore it is incumbent upon us to examine how David's love for Yonason developed.
David and Yonason respected each other,due to their love and determination for the benefit of their people. That both were willing to sacrifice their lives so that Israel may live. In other words they shared the same fervent love of G-d and G-D's Chosen People.By learning from them we can find the secret to a lasting marriage. When husband and wife believe and sacrifice for the same ideal, then the union becomes one of soul not just body.
It is the fusion of ideals, of purpose, than keeps people together. These last far longer than the original electricity.
This applies to our communal attitudes as well. If we believe in the mission of the Jewish people we will serve the needs of the community. If we are only seeking social contact, we will soon become bored and look for other interests. Those in public positions would do well in taking this Mishneh to heart. A love that is based upon a value , not a physical thing , will last. Public servants who promote the society must learn the secret of the eternal friends of the Bible.