Giving Meaning to Love: Inspiring Words
Love is the strongest force in the universe, and it can take on many forms. It’s the dizzying feeling of falling in love, the unconditional love of a parent, the appreciation of a loyal friend, the gratitude for a mentor, and even the affection for a pet. In all forms, love is powerful and for many, it’s what makes life worth living. However, love can be one of the most difficult things to understand, express and even define especially in a world with so much hate, pain and chaos. Here’s a thoughtful quote by Plato that summarizes how we should approach love: “At the touch of love everyone becomes a poet.” We’ll explore quotes from different thinkers, leaders, and personalities which explain how we can give meaning to love and have a fulfilling life filled with love:
“The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart.” – Helen Keller
Helen Keller, an advocate for the deaf and blind, speaks about the importance of feeling with one’s heart. Given her condition, before having a breakthrough with her teacher, she herself wouldn’t have been able to experience everything this world has to offer with her senses. This quote means that love is beyond our physical world, it’s about the emotions we feel and express. When you reach out to someone who needs help, when you comfort a grieving friend or family member, or when you share life’s joys and milestones with loved ones, you’re doing those things with your heart. You’re giving and receiving that which cannot be seen nor heard by the naked eye or ear, but can be felt deeply within.
“Love is an endless act of forgiveness. Forgiveness is me giving up the right to hurt you for hurting me.” – Beyoncé
As much as we love, we’re bound to get hurt or hurt others at one point or another. Whether intentional or not, it’s important to learn how to forgive and ask for forgiveness if we’re to thrive in our relationships. Beyoncé, a renowned musician, songwriter and businesswoman, understands that when someone wrongs you, it’s natural to want to hurt them back. But she advises that forgiveness is a better alternative, as it liberates you from the wheels of suffering and hurt. When someone forgives, they convey that they’re choosing to remove the power they once had over someone else’s emotions. Not only does forgiveness give peace to others, but it allows you to heal and move on with love in your heart.
“To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.” – Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde, an Irish playwright, novelist, and poet highlights the importance of self-love. Sometimes, we forget to love ourselves in the pursuit of loving other people or things. When we constantly seek approval and validation from others, we give away our self-worth and self-esteem. This quote means that by learning to love ourselves, we open the doors to loving the world around us more deeply. When we have a healthy sense of self-love, we can give love freely, appreciate ourselves, and be more forgiving towards our shortcomings. It’s only when we know our worth that we can truly understand how we should be treated and loved by others in our lives.
“The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds.” – Nicholas Sparks
Nicholas Sparks, a contemporary romance novelist, sums up the feeling of true love. He recognizes that there’s a kind of love that makes one feel more alive. This kind of love is the one that lights up our passion, restores our faith, and rejuvenates our soul. When we feel truly loved, we’re able to achieve greater heights than ever before. We’re inspired to become better people, be more creative, and live more fully. This quote means that when we give and receive this kind of love, it’s one that generates an energy that never dies; it feeds our dreams and gives meaning and purpose to our lives.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi, an Indian activist and leader, emphasizes how love can be expressed through service to others. By serving others, we enrich their lives and ours too. This quote means that by doing selfless acts of kindness, we find a sense of purpose and fulfillment, which in turn fills us with love and joy. When we serve others, we give of ourselves, and in so doing, we unlock the potential for deeper connections and relationships. We discover our motives for giving and increase our capacity for compassion, empathy, and love.
“A person who truly loves you will never let you go, no matter how hard the situation is.” – Unknown
This anonymous quote highlights the loyalty that comes with true love. Someone who truly loves you will be there during your highs and lows; they’ll support you no matter what. This quote means that true love is unwavering, even in the most trying times. When we find ourselves seeking to give this kind of love, we prove our commitment to others. We demonstrate our willingness to stand by someone’s side through thick and thin, and to be a beacon of light in their hours of darkness. Loving someone means being an anchor they can rely on when everything else is falling apart.
In conclusion, the quotes above emphasize that love is multifaceted and can be experienced in different forms. They remind us to give selflessly, forgive freely, and love unconditionally, and to the best of our abilities. Love is what connects us all, comforts us, and makes life worth living. Let these quotes inspire you to give meaning to your love and to share its beauty with others.