Mrs. Dalloway: by Virginia Woolf.

Given a choice, the young woman - or man for that matter - of average sort will choose a safe everyday continuance of routine than choose life and love with all its turmoil, and prefer a safe facsimile rather than the raw truth. For growth is painful and while children can face it fearlessly, even eagerly, age for love brings fear of losing the cocoon one has grown up in - neighbourhood, people one knows, routines, familiar rituals whether parties or church or afternoon coffee sessions with neighbours - and the real risk is a loss of ego on realising one's own self. Most people would rather lose love.