There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a…
““There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations - these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. This does not mean that we are to be perpetually solemn. We must play. But our merriment must be of that kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind) which exists between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously - no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption. And our charity must be real and costly love, with deep feelings for the sins in spite of which we love the sinner - no mere tolerance, or indulgence which parodies love as flippancy parodies merriment. Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbour is the holiest object presented to your senses ... for in him also Christ 'vere latitat' - the glorifier and the glorified, Glory Himself, is truly hidden.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
All humans are interconnected; true charity requires deep, costly love and serious regard for one another, beyond mere tolerance.
In simple terms: We must love deeply and seriously.
Key Takeaway
Practice sincere, costly love toward others.
Themes
love
humanity
seriousness
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- friendships
- marriage
- community service
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
ethics
interpersonal relations
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you show costly love daily?
- What does taking others seriously look like?
A Different Perspective
Ideal love may be hard to sustain in everyday life.