What does this mean? I just want to let you know that I love you. I'm so sorry that I have not been the person that gives you what you deserve.
It sounds like he feels that he just can't, at the end of the day, please you.
There are a number of possibilities here:
I answer some version of this enough that it's worth my addressing separately. It can also come out as “I'm not in her class.” or “Why would she love me?” or “I can't possibly live up to her standard.” or “What could I offer her?” or “What could she possibly see in me?” or, worst of all “I don't love her as much as she loves me.” Feel free to swap the pronouns: I'm sure women have the same hang-ups.
There is something fundamental missing in the foundation of many relationships, and it is our unwillingness to go there that leads to the unnecessary termination of a lot of marriages, and a lot of heart ache.
It's like this.
I was at an event the other night, and ended up spending some time at the bar with a handful of women a few years older than I talking divorce. One was divorced already, another still married, happily I presume, and a third contemplating. She, at least it occurred so to me, was not complete with what was. There was a spark not yet extinguished.
What advice would you give to a young man who is trying to find a keeper(better half)?
Figure out what you must have. It's tough to be with a vegan if beef barbecue is your thing. Similar attitudes about money/savings/where to live/religion/how to raise the kids also can have a huge impact. It’s not that everything has to line up, but you should at least know your red lines.
Then learn how to dress, learn basic manners (my pet peeve is table manners), look at what you can do to be a kind person, and learn most of all to listen.
Oh, and get interested in something other than women. The most interesting people are those who have a passionate interest in something else.