--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Love is a virtue; it grows stronger and…" description: "\"Love is a virtue; it grows stronger and purer and less selfish by applying it to what it loathes; but theft is a vice involving the slave-idea that one..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/914/aleister-crowley-1100_grows_love-is-a-virtue-it-grows-stronger-and-p_301603.png" --- # Love is a virtue; it grows stronger and purer and less… ![“Love is a virtue; it grows stronger and purer and less selfish by applying it to what it loathes; but theft is a vice involving the slave-idea that one's neighbor is superior to oneself.” quote by Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/914/aleister-crowley-1100_grows_love-is-a-virtue-it-grows-stronger-and-p_301603.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/914/aleister-crowley-1100_grows_love-is-a-virtue-it-grows-stronger-and-p_301603.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/914/aleister-crowley-1100_grows_love-is-a-virtue-it-grows-stronger-and-p_301603.png) > “Love is a virtue; it grows stronger and purer and less selfish by applying it to what it loathes; but theft is a vice involving the slave-idea that one's neighbor is superior to oneself.” [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Love becomes purer when directed toward what we dislike, while envy stems from seeing others as superior. **In simple terms:** Love purifies, envy degrades. Key Takeaway Cultivate love for challenging people, guard against envy. Themes love virtue envy selfishness Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - personal relationships - conflict resolution - self‑improvement - community building Key Concepts psychology ethics spirituality Questions to Reflect On - How can you practice love toward someone you dislike? - What distinguishes envy from admiration? A Different Perspective Envy can be rationalized as healthy competition, blurring moral lines. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-virtue/) [Neighbor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighbor/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Theft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theft/) [Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [Vice, like virtue, Grows in small steps, and no true innocence Can ever fall at once to deepest guilt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/vice-like-virtue-grows-in-small-steps-and-no-true-innocence-can-ever/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [“Virtue grows in the sunshine of kindness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sravani-saha-nakhro/virtue-grows-in-the-sunshine-of-kindness/) [Sravani Saha Nakhro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sravani-saha-nakhro/) > [Kindness is the sunshine in which virtue grows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/kindness-is-the-sunshine-in-which-virtue-grows/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Identity theft, financial laundering, as well as ransom and ransomware - I mean, think of it - all involving extortion of a hacked institution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/identity-theft-financial-laundering-as-well-as-ransom-and-ransomware/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [ The good hate sin because they love virtue. \[Lat., Oderunt peccare boni virtutis amore.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/the-good-hate-sin-because-they-love-virtue-lat-oderunt-peccare-boni/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [The only rules not meant to be broken are those of love and virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/the-only-rules-not-meant-to-be-broken-are-those-of-love-and-virtue/) [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) > [The good refrain from sin from the pure love of virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/the-good-refrain-from-sin-from-the-pure-love-of-virtue/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [If love is the soul of Christian existence, it must be at the heart of every other Christian virtue. Thus, for example, justice without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/if-love-is-the-soul-of-christian-existence-it-must-be-at-the-heart-of/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [“The earth would be covered with men amongst whom there world would be almost no communication; we would make contact at some points without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/the-earth-would-be-covered-with-men-amongst-whom-there-world-would-be/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [“The principals are quite simple. We can love people who treat us well. We cannot love people who treat us badly because, treating someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-molyneux/the-principals-are-quite-simple-we-can-love-people-who-treat-us-well/) [Stefan Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-molyneux/) > [ “\[I\]n love, man declares himself unsatisfied in his individuality taken by itself, he postulates the existence of another as a need of the heart;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-feuerbach/i-n-love-man-declares-himself-unsatisfied-in-his-individuality-taken/) [Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-feuerbach/) > [What fervent love of herself would Virtue excite if she could be seen!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/what-fervent-love-of-herself-would-virtue-excite-if-she-could-be-seen/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [It is difficult to persuade mankind that the love of virtue is the love of themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/it-is-difficult-to-persuade-mankind-that-the-love-of-virtue-is-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Love Virtue, she alone is free, She can teach ye how to climb Higher than the sphery chime; Or, if Virtue feeble were, Heav'n…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/love-virtue-she-alone-is-free-she-can-teach-ye-how-to-climb-higher/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [And what is faith, love, virtue unassayed Alone, without exterior help sustained?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-what-is-faith-love-virtue-unassayed-alone-without-exterior-help/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) ## More by Aleister Crowley > [“Remember that which is written: "Moderate strength rings the bell: great strength returns the penny." It is always the little bit extra that brings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/remember-that-which-is-written-moderate-strength-rings-the-bell-great/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [Ordinary morality is only for ordinary people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/ordinary-morality-is-only-for-ordinary-people/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [This formula of Love is universal; all the laws of Nature are its servitors. Thus, gravitation, chemical affinity, electrical potential, and the rest -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/this-formula-of-love-is-universal-all-the-laws-of-nature-are-its/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [The Gods are but names for the forces of Nature themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/the-gods-are-but-names-for-the-forces-of-nature-themselves/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [Your kiss is bitter with cocaine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/your-kiss-is-bitter-with-cocaine/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [A single ego is an absurdly narrow vantage point from which to view the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/a-single-ego-is-an-absurdly-narrow-vantage-point-from-which-to-view/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [I must make MAGICK the essential factor in the life of ALL. 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To stop means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/the-joy-of-life-consists-in-the-exercise-of-one-s-energies-continual/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [Every intentional act is a magical act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/every-intentional-act-is-a-magical-act/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [“Sex is, directly or indirectly, the most powerful weapon in the armoury of the Magician; and precisely because there is no moral guide, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/sex-is-directly-or-indirectly-the-most-powerful-weapon-in-the-armoury/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [The old spelling MAGICK has been adopted throughout in order to distinguish the Science of the Magi from all its counterfeits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/the-old-spelling-magick-has-been-adopted-throughout-in-order-to/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) [Explore all 291 Aleister Crowley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) ## More Grows quotes > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [“Laugh and grow strong”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-loyola/laugh-and-grow-strong/) [Ignatius of Loyola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-loyola/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. 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War grows from their peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/their-peace-and-their-war-are-like-wind-and-storm-war-grows-from/) [Bertolt Brecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I just want to grow spiritually with the Lord,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/i-just-want-to-grow-spiritually-with-the-lord/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [It's a challenge to work a character's arc into a format in which you only have a very limited amount of time to grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginnifer-goodwin/it-s-a-challenge-to-work-a-character-s-arc-into-a-format-in-which-you/) [Ginnifer Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginnifer-goodwin/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. 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