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It may seem a hard matter, to love our neighbours who have…

“It may seem a hard matter, to love our neighbours who have so much of what is evil about them, and whose faults so often await the evil that lingers within ourselves. But remember that he made them and he loves them, and whosever loves him that begat, loveth him that was begotten also. and if god…” quote by Anne Brontë
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““It may seem a hard matter, to love our neighbours who have so much of what is evil about them, and whose faults so often await the evil that lingers within ourselves. But remember that he made them and he loves them, and whosever loves him that begat, loveth him that was begotten also. and if god so loveth us that he gave his only begotten son to die for us, we ought also to love one another, but if you cannot feel positive affection for those that do not care for you, you can at least try to do to them as they should do unto you. You can endeavour to pity their failings and excuse their offenses and to do all the good you can to those about you. And if you accustom yourself to this, Nancy, the very effort itself will make you love them in some degree, to say nothing of the goodwill your kindness would beget in them, though they might have little else that is good about them. If we love God, and wish to serve him, let us try to be like him, to do his work, to labour for his glory, which is the good of man, to hasten the coming of his kingdom, which is the peace and happiness of all the world. However powerless we may seem to be in doing all the good through life, the humblest of us may do much towards it. And let us dwell in love, that he may dwell in us, and we in him. The more happiness we bestow, the more we shall receive even here and the greater will be our reward in heaven when rest from our labours.””

Anne Brontë

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The passage urges loving others despite their flaws, seeing love as divine duty, and believing that practicing love fosters goodwill and spiritual reward.

In simple terms: Love others even when they’re flawed; it’s a divine duty.

Key Takeaway

Practice love to grow spiritually.

Themes

faith compassion ethics

Mood

hopeful reflective

Type

spiritual ethical

When to use this quote

  • community service
  • interfaith dialogue
  • personal meditation
  • charitable acts

Key Concepts

theology humanism

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can you show compassion to someone who has wronged you?
  • What small acts of love can you practice daily?
A Different Perspective

Loving everyone can be challenging when they cause hurt.

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