--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Only God is love, and for this love to be…" description: "\"Only God is love, and for this love to be fully realized self must step aside. And not only do we not need a self to love God, but for the same reason ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfe/bernadette-roberts-28785_god-is-love_only-god-is-love-and-for-this-love-to-be_2163551.jpg" --- # Only God is love, and for this love to be fully realized… ![“Only God is love, and for this love to be fully realized self must step aside. And not only do we not need a self to love God, but for the same reason we do not need a mind to know him, for that in us which knows God, is God.” quote by Bernadette Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfe/bernadette-roberts-28785_god-is-love_only-god-is-love-and-for-this-love-to-be_2163551.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfe/bernadette-roberts-28785_god-is-love_only-god-is-love-and-for-this-love-to-be_2163551.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfe/bernadette-roberts-28785_god-is-love_only-god-is-love-and-for-this-love-to-be_2163551.jpg) > “Only God is love, and for this love to be fully realized self must step aside. And not only do we not need a self to love God, but for the same reason we do not need a mind to know him, for that in us which knows God, is God.” [Bernadette Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-roberts/) ## 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 of the divine requires surrendering self, and knowing God does not need a mind; God is the knowing self. **In simple terms:** Love God by letting go of self. Key Takeaway Release ego to experience divine love. Themes spirituality selflessness divine love Mood reflective serene Type mystical inspirational When to use this quote - Meditation - spiritual counseling - theological study Key Concepts Non-duality self-transcendence Questions to Reflect On - What does surrendering self mean to you? - Can love exist without self? A Different Perspective May conflict with personal identity concepts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Knowing god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing-god/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-love/) ## Related quotes > [Since love of God is the highest felicity and happiness of man, his final end and the aim of all his actions, it follows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/since-love-of-god-is-the-highest-felicity-and-happiness-of-man-his/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [A Christian knows when it is time to speak of God and when it is better to say nothing and to let love alone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/a-christian-knows-when-it-is-time-to-speak-of-god-and-when-it-is/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Whoever knows himself knows God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elijah-muhammad/whoever-knows-himself-knows-god/) [Elijah Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elijah-muhammad/) > [The picture of fallen man as given in Scripture is that he knows God but does not want to recognize Him as God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-van-til/the-picture-of-fallen-man-as-given-in-scripture-is-that-he-knows-god/) [Cornelius Van Til](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-van-til/) > [A man may go into the field and say his prayer and be aware of God, or he may be in Church and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/a-man-may-go-into-the-field-and-say-his-prayer-and-be-aware-of-god-or/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [A man of God would never burn or harm a temple of any kind -- regardless of religion. A true man of God would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/a-man-of-god-would-never-burn-or-harm-a-temple-of-any-kind-regardless/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [A fear-stricken person can never know God, and one who knows God will never fear a mortal man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/a-fear-stricken-person-can-never-know-god-and-one-who-knows-god-will/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“Whoever knows God, depart from evil.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/whoever-knows-god-depart-from-evil/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Anyone who knows God cannot describe Him. Anyone who can describe God does not know Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/anyone-who-knows-god-cannot-describe-him-anyone-who-can-describe-god/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [What this country needs is a man who knows God other than by heresay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/what-this-country-needs-is-a-man-who-knows-god-other-than-by-heresay/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [The man who knows God but does not know his own misery, becomes proud. The man who knows his own misery but does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-man-who-knows-god-but-does-not-know-his-own-misery-becomes-proud/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [The heart that knows God can find God anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/the-heart-that-knows-god-can-find-god-anywhere/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [The higher a man's conception of God, the better will he know Him. And the better he knows God, the nearer will he draw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-higher-a-man-s-conception-of-god-the-better-will-he-know-him-and/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Regardless of the source of our pain, we must accept that God knows, God loves, and God is at work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stanley/regardless-of-the-source-of-our-pain-we-must-accept-that-god-knows/) [Charles Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stanley/) > [Anyone who says he knows God's intention is showing a lot of very human ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/anyone-who-says-he-knows-god-s-intention-is-showing-a-lot-of-very/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) ## More by Bernadette Roberts > [When one is perfectly still-mind and body, silent and alone-there is no personality to speak of, thus personality is one's unique way of expression,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-roberts/when-one-is-perfectly-still-mind-and-body-silent-and-alone-there-is/) [Bernadette Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-roberts/) > [The truest communication with God is absolute, total silence; there is not a single word in existence that can convey this communication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-roberts/the-truest-communication-with-god-is-absolute-total-silence-there-is/) [Bernadette Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-roberts/) > [This search for perfection - which is a search for divinity - is nothing more than the failure to accept our existence the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-roberts/this-search-for-perfection-which-is-a-search-for-divinity-is-nothing/) [Bernadette Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-roberts/) > [This journey then, is nothing more, yet nothing less than a period of acclimating to a new way of seeing, a time of transition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-roberts/this-journey-then-is-nothing-more-yet-nothing-less-than-a-period-of/) [Bernadette Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-roberts/) > [It is one step, and a giant one, to see clearly and participate in the love that flows between the persons of the Trinity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-roberts/it-is-one-step-and-a-giant-one-to-see-clearly-and-participate-in-the/) [Bernadette Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-roberts/) > [It is far more than the discovery of life without a self. The immediate, inevitable result is an emergence into a new dimension of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-roberts/it-is-far-more-than-the-discovery-of-life-without-a-self-the/) [Bernadette Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-roberts/) > [The assumption that the egoless condition, or union of self and God, is man's final goal and ultimate destiny is a great mistake. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-roberts/the-assumption-that-the-egoless-condition-or-union-of-self-and-god-is/) [Bernadette Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-roberts/) > [But coming home that day, walking downhill with a panorama of valley and hills before me, I turned my gaze inward, and what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-roberts/but-coming-home-that-day-walking-downhill-with-a-panorama-of-valley/) [Bernadette Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-roberts/) > [The onset of this second movement is characterized by the falling away of self and coming upon "that" which remains when it is gone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-roberts/the-onset-of-this-second-movement-is-characterized-by-the-falling/) [Bernadette Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-roberts/) > [Spiritual life is like a moving sidewalk. Whether you go with it or spend your whole life running against it, you're still going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-roberts/spiritual-life-is-like-a-moving-sidewalk-whether-you-go-with-it-or/) [Bernadette Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-roberts/) > [...a point is reached where the self is so completely aligned with the still-point that it can no longer be moved, even in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-roberts/a-point-is-reached-where-the-self-is-so-completely-aligned-with-the/) [Bernadette Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-roberts/) > [When there is no longer a cyclone, there is no longer an eye. So the storms, crises and sufferings of life are a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-roberts/when-there-is-no-longer-a-cyclone-there-is-no-longer-an-eye-so-the/) [Bernadette Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-roberts/) > [In some ways, all our experiences of God are beyond belief, because all conceptual beliefs pale when compared to the experiential reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-roberts/in-some-ways-all-our-experiences-of-god-are-beyond-belief-because-all/) [Bernadette Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-roberts/) > [I went on to discover that in its deepest sense, the will is not primarily the faculty of desire for anything known, but rather,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-roberts/i-went-on-to-discover-that-in-its-deepest-sense-the-will-is-not/) [Bernadette Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-roberts/) > […at this point the self has obviously outworn its function; it is no longer needed or useful, and life can go on without it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-roberts/at-this-point-the-self-has-obviously-outworn-its-function-it-is-no/) [Bernadette Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-roberts/) [Explore all 19 Bernadette Roberts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-roberts/) ## More God is love quotes > [My father was a minister for 50 years with Pentecostal Church of God in Christ. We prayed about everything, every day, then he always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/my-father-was-a-minister-for-50-years-with-pentecostal-church-of-god/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [God's love is as objective as light. Because the sun in a sense is light, or the source of light rather than being lit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/god-s-love-is-as-objective-as-light-because-the-sun-in-a-sense-is/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [“DECEMBER 1 You have one place of hope, security, and rest. It is found in these words: “God is love.” It is something every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/december-1-you-have-one-place-of-hope-security-and-rest-it-is-found/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) > [Happiness is to be found only in the home, where God is loved and honored. Where each one gives love,cares,and helping each other No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianette-carbito/happiness-is-to-be-found-only-in-the-home-where-god-is-loved-and/) [Marianette Carbito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianette-carbito/) > [ The words 'God is love' conclude a biblical warning, not a warm and fuzzy slogan. 'He who doesn't love \[his neighbor\] doesn't love God,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-white/the-words-god-is-love-conclude-a-biblical-warning-not-a-warm-and/) [Mel White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-white/) > [“Only God - only Love gets to define us. Anything else is a mere shadow at best and an outright lie at worst.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-toon/only-god-only-love-gets-to-define-us-anything-else-is-a-mere-shadow/) [Catherine Toon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-toon/) > [ATTRIBUTES OF GOD Because God is spirit...I will seek intimate fellowship with Him. Because God is all-powerful...He can help me with anything. Because God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-william-r-bright/attributes-of-god-because-god-is-spirit-i-will-seek-intimate/) Dr William R Bright > [Love is what God is, love is why Jesus came, and love is why he continues to come, year after year to person after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/love-is-what-god-is-love-is-why-jesus-came-and-love-is-why-he/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [Love is life, love is god, love is sannyas!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/love-is-life-love-is-god-love-is-sannyas/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I believe that God is love. I believe that Jesus came to show us this love, to give us this love, to teach us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/i-believe-that-god-is-love-i-believe-that-jesus-came-to-show-us-this/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [God is love. His plan for creation can only be rooted in love. Does not that simple thought, rather than erudite reasoning, offer solace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/god-is-love-his-plan-for-creation-can-only-be-rooted-in-love-does-not/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [I live by syllogisms: God is love. Love is blind. Stevie Wonder is blind. Therefore, Stevie Wonder is God. I don't know what I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/i-live-by-syllogisms-god-is-love-love-is-blind-stevie-wonder-is-blind/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [“God’s only power is to love silently. He is incapable of any oppressive force. God is love, and love cannot compel, force, or oppress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sarah/god-s-only-power-is-to-love-silently-he-is-incapable-of-any/) [Robert Sarah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sarah/) > [I profess the religion of love, Love is my religion and my faith. My mother is love My father is love My prophet is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/i-profess-the-religion-of-love-love-is-my-religion-and-my-faith-my/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Love is higher than the Highest. Love is greater than the Greatest. Yea, it is in a certain sense greater than God; while yet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jakob-bohme/love-is-higher-than-the-highest-love-is-greater-than-the-greatest-yea/) [Jakob Bohme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jakob-bohme/) Browse all 358 God is love quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Only God is love, and for this love to be fully realized self must step aside. 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