Yes, love, ...but not the love that loves for something…
““Yes, love, ...but not the love that loves for something, to gain something, or because of something, but that love that I felt for the first time, when dying, I saw my enemy and yet loved him. I knew that feeling of love which is the essence of the soul, for which no object is needed. And I know that blissful feeling now too. To love one's neighbours; to love one's enemies. To love everything - to Love God in all His manifestations. Some one dear to one can be loved with human love; but an enemy can only be loved with divine love. And that was why I felt such joy when I felt that I loved that man. What happened to him? Is he alive? ...Loving with human love, one may pass from love to hatred; but divine love cannot change. Nothing, not even death, can shatter it. It is the very nature of the soul. And how many people I have hated in my life. And of all people none I have loved and hated more than her… If it were only possible for me to see her once more... once, looking into those eyes to say...””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
True love transcends personal gain, embracing even enemies with an immutable, divine compassion that the soul alone sustains.
In simple terms: Love beyond self‑interest, divine and unchanging.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate unconditional, soul‑based love.
Themes
compassion
spirituality
forgiveness
humanity
Mood
reflective
hopeful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal loss
- conflict resolution
- spiritual practice
- grief processing
Key Concepts
divine love
essence of soul
self‑transcendence
Questions to Reflect On
- Can you love someone without expecting anything?
- How does divine love differ from ordinary affection?
A Different Perspective
Divine love may feel abstract and hard to practice amid deep personal hurt.