--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What we call love is in its essence…" description: "\"What we call love is in its essence reverence for life.\" — Albert Schweitzer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/albert-schweitzer-701_essence_what-we-call-love-is-in-its-essence-reve_1880341.jpg" --- # What we call love is in its essence reverence for life. ![“What we call love is in its essence reverence for life.” quote by Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/albert-schweitzer-701_essence_what-we-call-love-is-in-its-essence-reve_1880341.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/albert-schweitzer-701_essence_what-we-call-love-is-in-its-essence-reve_1880341.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/albert-schweitzer-701_essence_what-we-call-love-is-in-its-essence-reve_1880341.jpg) > “What we call love is in its essence reverence for life.” [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) ## 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 fundamentally deep respect for the life of others. **In simple terms:** Love = reverence for life. Key Takeaway Respect all life. Themes compassion respect interconnectedness Mood thoughtful hopeful Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - volunteering - environmental activism - caregiving - conflict resolution Key Concepts humanism ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can you show reverence for life daily? - What obstacles hinder your respect for others? A Different Perspective Respect may be challenged by self‑interest or cultural differences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Essence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence/) [Essence Reverence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence-reverence-2651101/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love & life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-life-2/) [Love Essence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-essence-536090/) [Love is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-is/) [Reverence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reverence/) [Reverence for life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reverence-for-life/) [Reverence Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reverence-life-709418/) ## Related quotes > [The ethic of Reverence for Life is the ethic of Love widened into universality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/the-ethic-of-reverence-for-life-is-the-ethic-of-love-widened-into/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Reverence for life is the highest court of appeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/reverence-for-life-is-the-highest-court-of-appeal/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [ What does Reverence for Life say abut the relations between \[humanity\] and the animal world? Whenever I injury any kind of life I must… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/what-does-reverence-for-life-say-abut-the-relations-between-humanity/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Reverence for life affords me my fundamental principle of morality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/reverence-for-life-affords-me-my-fundamental-principle-of-morality-2/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [By having a reverence for life, we enter into a spiritual relation with the world By practicing reverence for life we become good, deep,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/by-having-a-reverence-for-life-we-enter-into-a-spiritual-relation/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Reverence for life affords me my fundamental principle of morality, namely that good consists in maintaining, assisting, and enhancing life, and that to destroy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/reverence-for-life-affords-me-my-fundamental-principle-of-morality/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [I think along the way, as we treat nature as model and mentor, and not as a nuisance to be evaded or manipulated, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amory-lovins/i-think-along-the-way-as-we-treat-nature-as-model-and-mentor-and-not/) [Amory Lovins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amory-lovins/) > [If you are fully aligned with your soul it will be your pleasure, your joy to always move toward cooperation, toward sharing, toward reverence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/if-you-are-fully-aligned-with-your-soul-it-will-be-your-pleasure-your/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [You only become funny when you have a complete reverence for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-only-become-funny-when-you-have-a-complete-reverence-for-life/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“There is also a dimension of patience which links it to a special reverence for life. 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Instead he bends every effort to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/when-a-man-has-reverence-for-life-he-will-never-do-anything-to-harm/) [Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/) > [A reverence for life needs to be developed, in which all things are sacred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-reverence-for-life-needs-to-be-developed-in-which-all-things-are/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We can make these three dynamic words - "reverence for life" - a part of our lives by becoming aware that God is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/we-can-make-these-three-dynamic-words-reverence-for-life-a-part-of/) [Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/) > [Ethics is nothing else than reverence for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-is-nothing-else-than-reverence-for-life/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Just as white light consists of colored rays, so reverence for life contains all the components of ethics: love, kindliness, sympathy, empathy, peacefulness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/just-as-white-light-consists-of-colored-rays-so-reverence-for-life/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) ## More by Albert Schweitzer > [Every patient carries her or his own doctor inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-patient-carries-her-or-his-own-doctor-inside/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Ethics is the activity of man directed to secure the inner perfection of his own personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-is-the-activity-of-man-directed-to-secure-the-inner-perfection/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Because I have confidence in the power of truth, and of the spirit, I have confidence in the future of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/because-i-have-confidence-in-the-power-of-truth-and-of-the-spirit-i/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Man's ethics must not end with man, but should extend to the universe. He must regain the consciousness of the great Chain of Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/man-s-ethics-must-not-end-with-man-but-should-extend-to-the-universe/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Sincerity is the foundation of the spiritual life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/sincerity-is-the-foundation-of-the-spiritual-life/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [I am life that wants to live, in the midst of life that wants to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/i-am-life-that-wants-to-live-in-the-midst-of-life-that-wants-to-live/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [“ Bauer 's 'Criticism of the Gospel History' is worth a good dozen Lives of Jesus, because his work, as we are only now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/bauer-s-criticism-of-the-gospel-history-is-worth-a-good-dozen-lives/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Ethics is in its unqualified form extended responsibility to everything that has life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-is-in-its-unqualified-form-extended-responsibility-to/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [The only way out of today's misery is for people to become worthy of each other's trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/the-only-way-out-of-today-s-misery-is-for-people-to-become-worthy-of/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [When we observe contemporary society one thing strikes us. We debate but make no progress. Why? Because as peoples we do not yet trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/when-we-observe-contemporary-society-one-thing-strikes-us-we-debate/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [For those who sincerely seek the truth should not fear the outcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/for-those-who-sincerely-seek-the-truth-should-not-fear-the-outcome/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [The ethic of Reverence for Life is the ethic of Love widened into universality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/the-ethic-of-reverence-for-life-is-the-ethic-of-love-widened-into/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [I still remain convinced that truth, love, peaceableness, meekness, and kindness are the violence which can master all other violence. The world will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/i-still-remain-convinced-that-truth-love-peaceableness-meekness-and/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Whatever you have received more than others-in health, in talents, in ability, in success, in a pleasant childhood, in harmonious conditions of home life-all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/whatever-you-have-received-more-than-others-in-health-in-talents-in/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Every start on an untrodden path is a venture which only in unusual circumstances looks sensible and likely to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-start-on-an-untrodden-path-is-a-venture-which-only-in-unusual/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) [Explore all 400 Albert Schweitzer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) ## More Essence quotes > [“THE ESSENCE OF YOUR DESIRE IS A FEELING”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/the-essence-of-your-desire-is-a-feeling/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [Everything in dancing is style, allusion, the essence of many thoughts and feelings. The abstraction of many moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-ailey/everything-in-dancing-is-style-allusion-the-essence-of-many-thoughts/) [Alvin Ailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-ailey/) > [Spiritually, life is a festival, a celebration. Joy is of the essence of life;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnivesh/spiritually-life-is-a-festival-a-celebration-joy-is-of-the-essence-of/) [Agnivesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnivesh/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [It's all the unwordable things one wants to write about, just as it's all the unformable things one wants to paint - essence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-carr/it-s-all-the-unwordable-things-one-wants-to-write-about-just-as-it-s/) [Emily Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-carr/) > [In essence, I see the value of journalism as resting in a twofold mission: informing the public of accurate and vital information, and its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/in-essence-i-see-the-value-of-journalism-as-resting-in-a-twofold/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [Curiosity is the essence of human existence. 'Who are we? Where are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going?'... I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/curiosity-is-the-essence-of-human-existence-who-are-we-where-are-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The essence of worldliness is exclusion of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jacobsen/the-essence-of-worldliness-is-exclusion-of-god/) [Henry Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jacobsen/) > [I am alive. Up here with the song of the engine and the air whispering on my face as the sunlight and shadows play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-coonts/i-am-alive-up-here-with-the-song-of-the-engine-and-the-air-whispering/) [Stephen Coonts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-coonts/) > [The essence of Christianity...is an ever-new encounter with... the God who speaks to us, who approaches us and who befriends us!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-essence-of-christianity-is-an-ever-new-encounter-with-the-god-who/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [The wisdom or the essence of Guru Tattwa is a balance. Like when you maintain a plant, if you do not give it water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/the-wisdom-or-the-essence-of-guru-tattwa-is-a-balance-like-when-you/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [This is the pathless path - returning to where you were initially before you got lost. The deepest truth in you is where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/this-is-the-pathless-path-returning-to-where-you-were-initially/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Communism... is the genuine resolution of the antagonism between man and nature and between man and man; it is the true resolution of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/communism-is-the-genuine-resolution-of-the-antagonism-between-man-and/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [I'm not so much in the future as always in the present. The future always takes care of itself. What I do now with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-mekas/i-m-not-so-much-in-the-future-as-always-in-the-present-the-future/) [Jonas Mekas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-mekas/) > [The essence of the stage is concentration and penetration. Of the screen action, movement, sweep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/the-essence-of-the-stage-is-concentration-and-penetration-of-the/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) [Browse all 3,115 Essence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What we call love is in its essence reverence for life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Albert Schweitzer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/what-we-call-love-is-in-its-essence-reverence-for-life/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Essence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/what-we-call-love-is-in-its-essence-reverence-for-life/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/albert-schweitzer-701_essence_what-we-call-love-is-in-its-essence-reve_1880341.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/albert-schweitzer-701_essence_what-we-call-love-is-in-its-essence-reve_1880341.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/albert-schweitzer-701_essence_what-we-call-love-is-in-its-essence-reve_1880341.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What we call love is in its essence reverence for life.” — Albert Schweitzer", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Albert Schweitzer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What we call love is in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/what-we-call-love-is-in-its-essence-reverence-for-life/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/what-we-call-love-is-in-its-essence-reverence-for-life/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```