This paper explores the relation between love, learning and knowledge as found in three dialogues of Plato, "Symposium", "Phaedrus" and "Republic". It argues that the account of the ascent from carnal desire to the love of beauty, as set out in the "Symposium", is best seen in terms of a genealogy of love in which the object of love is transformed into an object of knowledge. The "Phaedrus" shows us how affection and love between two individuals can help motivate a love of learning. The "Republic" demonstrates the value of knowledge through the distinction between knowledge and opinion (or received belief). A love of learning is, therefore, driven by that which is genuinely valuable and worthy of love. Plato helps us today in two respects: first, he reminds us that learning can (and for him, must) have an affective quality. Second, he reminds that the value of learning is related to the knowledge and insight it yields. (Contains 13 notes.)