This is a modern proverb, not an ancient one. Its exact origin is unknown, but its popularity surged with the rise of the internet and social media. The fact that it's often misattributed to great literary figures shows how deeply it resonates with the poetic, romantic sensibilities of Spanish-speaking cultures.

This quote is a cornerstone of modern romantic expression in Spanish. It's found everywhere from social media posts and tattoos to song lyrics and everyday conversations. It perfectly captures a popular cultural view of love as an intense, paradoxical, and ultimately redemptive force that gives meaning to life.

The quote's brilliance lies in its central metaphor and paradox. By first calling love an incurable 'illness' ('no tiene cura'), it acknowledges its overwhelming, sometimes painful, nature. It then immediately pivots, declaring it the 'only medicine' ('la única medicina'), elevating it above all other solutions. The use of 'males' (ills, sorrows) instead of a more clinical word like 'enfermedades' (diseases) broadens the meaning to include all emotional and spiritual suffering.