Is it ok to say those 3 little words if its not true?

Why is 'i love you' such an emotive phrase?

Can it be manipulative?, important?, trite?, sentimental nonsense? or the best thing you ever say/hear?

I ponder the question as I have a friend who has been married over 40 years who has never heard those words from her husband (yes she has said it to him). She claims it doesn't matter as she knows he does.....yet she mentions it.....frequently!?!?!?

It is difficult to say what drives people, and I am one of those people who rarely verbally expresses love, love can be easier expressed verbally by some than others. The problem is the depth and type of love one is expressing, and to whom they are expressing it. I have had females friends whom I actually loved as friends but dare not verbalize it, it can be / sometimes is, easily misconstrued as something else. When signing a correspondence I generally send the party I am addressing wishes of love / peace/ health/ happiness, but is generally as far as I go, though being an older bachelor, I probably am safe, but I am careful. In general, it would depend on the individual, as people express love in many different ways.

Thats exactly what I mean. The phrase 'i love you' carries so much more weight and hidden meaning than almost any other. If you say 'I like ' 'I enjoy your company' , its fairly straightforward and clear what is meant but 'i love you' seems to come with an agenda or commitment and rarely seems like plain talking.
An interestingly complex conundrum

Actions speak louder than words

And another thing, if you say 'I love your shoes/ my job/pistachio ice cream etc then the phrase is quite straightforward and everyone understands that you like that thing a lot but we also understand there isn't some underlying deep commitment to that inanimate object , some special relationship that will last forever, its just a stronger version of liking something.
So why is 'I love YOU' somehow different?

Wow, getting a bit deep here but humor me.....

Not used those words in a long time, but these days I'm not likely to anyway at my age .

Used sparingly, and at those turbulent times in your life when it means so much, can be really uplifting.

Otherwise, in my world, actions prove if someone loves me or not.

I said those three words to my daughter last week - I felt that before I part from this earth - her energy &
helpfulness should not go unrewarded - so I said - " I love you "- & - gave her a BIG hug.

Mars & Venus.
"Men Don't Cry".
Ohh Yes they do. I've known several, admired for their extreme masculinity. Sobbing.
They walk away, to somewhere private. Heaven help, even best pal. Offering condolence too readily.
"Women Cry Openly".
No perceived shame. Welcomed condolence. And frequently apologising with. "Sorry"!
Perfectly normal Gender emotive reactions. Similar to voicing. "I love you".
Upside. When either say I Love you. And the other 'Immediately' responds with same.
One can be pretty sure its genuine. Viva le Difference.

My daughter and I end our daily FaceTime with, ‘Love you’, and have told each other every day since I had cancer some years ago, realising one day, that could be the last words we spoke to each other

If you have someone special, I urge you to tell them today ...