I've worn this quote to recent Valentine's Day parties, and was delighted when one former colleague included St. Bernard of Clairvaux words in her wedding:
"Love is sufficient of itself, it gives pleasure by itself and because of itself. It is its own merit, its own reward. Love looks for no cause outside itself, no effect beyond itself. Its profit lies in its practice. I love because I love, I love that I may love. Love is a great thing so long as it continually returns to its fountainhead, flow back to its source, always drawing from there the water which constantly replenishes it. Of all the movements, sensations and feelings of the soul, love is the only one in which the creature can respond to the Creator and make some sort of similar return however unequal though it be. For when God loves, all he desires is to be loved in return; the sole purpose of his love is to be loved, in the knowledge that those who love him are made happy by their love of him."
You can post your favorite quote on love, or respond to any of the other conversation starters anywhere on this Valentine's Day Blog by clicking on "comments" link below each entry. If you're in town and attending the party, we'll have art supplies so you can make your Valentine there.
The heart has reasons that the reason knows not of.
Posted by: Pascal | February 11, 2005 at 03:01 AM
One cannot be strong without love. For love is not an irrelevant emotion; it is the blood of life, the power of reunion of the separated.
The Eternal Now
Posted by: Paul Tillich | February 11, 2005 at 03:03 AM
One of the deep secrets of life is that all that is really worth doing is what we do for others.
Posted by: Lewis Carroll | February 11, 2005 at 03:04 AM
God is Love, and he who abides in love abides in God and God in him.
Posted by: John | February 11, 2005 at 03:06 AM
In love all of life's contradictions dissolve and disappear. Only in love are unity and duality not in conflict.
Posted by: Rabindranath Tagore | February 11, 2005 at 03:08 AM
An act of love is never forgotten.
Love, whether sexual, paternal or fraternal, is essentially sacrificial, and prompts a man to give his life for his friends.
The Life of Reason
Posted by: George Santayana | February 11, 2005 at 03:09 AM
To be loved, be lovable.
(This is the Quote of the Day on Beliefnet.com. If you have never visited the site before, the content and community forum are so good that users nominated the site for a "Webby Award.")
Posted by: Ovid | February 11, 2005 at 11:09 AM
Love comes in different forms at different times from different persons.
It does not have to be mutual to be love. You can love someone who doesn't love you. The same way it's acceptable for someone to love you without u loving them...Just be kind to their love for you are given a precious gift in the form of love.
Love is given without expectations.
Posted by: Vineta | October 18, 2006 at 11:39 PM