The quote comes from The Ethics of Ambiguity, her 1947 philosophical work. In the book, Beauvoir discusses individual freedom, responsibility and the importance of recognising other people as independent human beings.
Her argument about love is particularly interesting. She suggests that genuinely loving another person means accepting their individuality rather than trying to make them an extension of oneself. A partner has their own thoughts, ambitions, fears and choices. Loving them means respecting those differences.
The word ‘possession’ is important here. A person can be deeply committed to someone without believing they own that person’s time, attention or identity.
