That doesn't imply one is easier than the other since both are emotions resultant of outside circumstances. And it all depends on the person's nature. I'd say it would be much easier for Pollyanna or Barney the Dinosaur to love rather than hate. Hitler or Verbatim would find it easier to hate than love.

I can hate a person for them saying something stupid, callous, and heartless to another person, very easily. It doesn't affect them, and it burns out very shortly as well. It would take me a much longer time to develop a love or concern for that same person. Granted not everyone is wired the same way, but hate generally is much easier to formulate than love. It seems to be used way more often as well. I hate Barney....

[quote]I can hate a person for them saying something stupid, callous, and heartless to another person, very easily. It doesn't affect them, and it burns out very shortly as well.[/quote] I think the word hate is a bit more nebulous than love. People can apply it to a sense of strong dislike even though it really isn't hate. Hate is to negative feelings what love is to positive feelings, which is the strongest form of them. What you'd be feeling in those short-lived moments wouldn't qualify as hate, just a sharp jab of dislike. True hate is much more permanent, like if someone murdered your family.

Same can be said of those who find 'their true love' even though the other person is completely unaware of it. It isn't really love, but the desire to love and to be loved.

Ehh, I don't think love has to be mutual

It doesn't. My point was that someone can become infatuated, but it isn't really love though they believe it is.