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In the Egyptian civilization's writing system, called hieroglyphics, the symbol for love translated to "a long desire."

One of the most famous examples of unrequited love in history involves medieval Italian poet Dante and his muse, Beatrice Portinari.

Dante fell in love with Portinari at first sight when she was only 9 years old, but the poet was promised to marry someone else.

After Portinari's death in 1290, Dante chronicled his secret love for her in La Vita Nuova in 1295.

She also appears as his guide through Heaven in The Divine Comedy, completed in the early 1320s.

Unrequited love can manifest itself in different ways.

It can start as a crush,

which develops into a long-standing infatuation.

Admirers may desire someone from a distance, never telling the individual about their romantic feelings.

Conversely, unrequited lovers may relentlessly pursue the object of their affection, making their intentions known.

There are 2 main paths to unrequited love.

The attraction can be based on an existing connection or

the pursuit of someone more desirable.

Most often, unrequited love grows out of platonic friendships.

One friend may feel an underlying attraction toward the other.

It can develop in the workplace when a coworker has feelings for another employee.

It can spring up when a former flame wants to rekindle a romance.

Unrequited love can also occur during a mutually satisfying relationship when a person decides to leave, but the other individual is still in love.

Admirers may encounter unrequited love when they find someone more attractive than they are.

The person may possess physical qualities or personality traits that appeal to the would-be lover.

Pursuers may be drawn to the individual's beauty, sense of humor, or intelligence.

Unrequited love is quite common.

According to a 1993 study by psychologist Roy Baumeister, 98% of the participants said they had experienced unrequited love.

Men are more likely to fall for someone who does not return their affection, the study found.

Unrequited love is full of emotional highs and lows.

The experience can be painful for both admirers and the objects of their devotion.

Unrequited lovers sustain their passion for their beloved through hope.

They are optimistic the objects of their affinity will one day love them back.

Eventually, however, the admirers become disillusioned, realizing their efforts are fruitless.

The failure to pursue the one they love can leave unrequited lovers feeling hurt, humiliated, and depressed.

The stinging defeat of rejection can erode their self-confidence.

Most stories about unrequited love focus on the agony of the admirer, but the recipient also suffers:

At first, the objects of unwanted affection are initially flattered by the would-be lovers' attention.

However, as time goes on, the beloved must deflect unsought advances.

The recipient may become frustrated by the unrequited lover's persistent pursuit.

Recipients of unrequited love also feel guilty for wanting to reject their suitors, but they are afraid of hurting their feelings.

Instead of spurning them outright, the beloved individuals may avoid telling their pursuers the truth—that they do not share their romantic interest—and hope the infatuation fades.

To lessen the blow during rejection, the beloved individuals may also sugarcoat their words, saying they are not interested in a relationship at the current time.

However, this strategy can backfire:

The appeasing language may give the would-be lovers just enough hope to hang on to the possibility of a future romance.

In extreme cases, admirers' unrequited love can turn into obsession and stalking.

Unrequited love results in unhappiness and heartbreak. Admirers can cope with doomed relationships in 3 ways:

First, unrequited lovers must accept the reality of the situation. Pursuers must admit the objects of their devotion do not love them back. It does not mean the unwanted suitor is undeserving or unattractive.

Second, admirers must acknowledge rejection and the feelings that accompany it, including sadness and loneliness. They may realize they were not the right partner for their beloved, and vice versa.

Finally, unrequited lovers should minimize contact with the recipients of their affection. They are mourning the loss of a relationship they never had, but keeping in touch could keep the hope of having one alive. A clean break allows the admirer to move on from the infatuation.

Unrequited love is a common theme in literary works.

French dramatist Edmond Rostand's 1897 play Cyrano de Bergerac follows the noble soldier Cyrano, a gifted poet in love with his beautiful cousin Roxane.

Cyrano, ashamed of his large nose, helps the handsome cadet Christian woo Roxane by writing romantic poetry to her under Christian's name.

In The Hunchback of Notre Dame, written by French author Victor Hugo in 1831, deformed hunchback Quasimodo falls in love with the stunning gypsy Esmeralda after she shows him kindness.

After Esmeralda is hanged, Quasimodo kills the priest responsible for her death.

American writer Margaret Mitchell's epic 1936 novel Gone with the Wind follows selfish Southern belle Scarlett O'Hara, who is in love with the mild-mannered Ashley Wilkes.

Ashley loves his cousin Melanie, but he does not fully reject Scarlett's feelings, which she hangs on to despite her many marriages.

The romance was adapted into a cinematic masterpiece in 1939.

Unrequited love is a phenomenon that almost everyone experiences. As people search for true love, they will likely encounter unrequited love and the heartbreak it brings on the way to finding a lasting relationship.