If you realized you were in love with a friend, but knew they wouldn't feel the same way...and if you told them it would destroy your friendship?

Fall out of love.

Been there, done that. Keep your mouth shut and look elsewhere. Nurture the friendship, but meet your romantic needs elsewhere and don't use the friendship as a substitute. More often that not, it doesn't go well.

You have no idea how they would feel if you don't tell them! That's where it's supposed to start from, right?

BITE YOUR TONGUE !

What if one of your other friends said they overheard them saying that it would never work?

Then read the several other posts in this thread.

Just getting thoughts, that's all. Thanks.

I think that if they are a true friend they would understand.
Although you must let them know that you will not get all mussy on them. The last thing you want to do is make either of you to uncomfortable in any way.
I am going through the same thing at this point in my life. Although the woman that I still have feeling for is married. We had dated 23 years ago.
We just found one another after 23 years. We just talk openly about every thing. That way there is nothing to hide. I myself am comfortable with the friendship. I know that there will never be the love that we had 23 years ago. The best part is that we are becoming friends all over again.
This is so wonderful.

I think I would try to keep the friendship alive but maybe not be around the person quite so much and see if the feelings of love are not just deep friendship or loneliness. If the feelings don't fade I would think of no compliment greater than a friend to tell me they felt love for me. If you don't demand it to be reciprocated it should not destroy the friendship.