I suppose the most radical part of my teaching at present…
“I suppose the most radical part of my teaching at present is that love is not a feeling. Everybody suffers from love, or the fear of it, or the lack of it. Why? Why is love so universally and inevitably heart-breaking, whether it be through the end of a love affair, the death of a loved one or being locked in with the habitual casualness or grim indifference of a partner? The answer is because we've been taught and conditioned by the world to believe that love is a feeling.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Love is a relational practice, not a fleeting emotion; suffering arises when we treat it as a feeling to be owned or avoided.
In simple terms: Love is an action, not a feeling.
Key Takeaway
Treat love as a practice, not a feeling.
Themes
relationships
suffering
conditioning
emotion
mindfulness
Mood
reflective
empathetic
introspective
Type
advice
philosophical
psychological
When to use this quote
- romantic breakup
- grief counseling
- relationship therapy
- personal growth
- mindful parenting
Key Concepts
attachment theory
existentialism
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you practice love as a daily action?
- What habits reinforce love as a feeling?
A Different Perspective
Treating love as a feeling can lead to disappointment and avoidance of deeper connection.