--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If God is Love, He is, by definition…" description: "\"If God is Love, He is, by definition, something more than mere kindness. And it appears, from all the records, that though He has often rebuked us and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64b/c-s-lewis-2-132_compliment_if-god-is-love-he-is-by-definition-somet_1674569.png" --- # If God is Love, He is, by definition, something more than… ![“If God is Love, He is, by definition, something more than mere kindness. And it appears, from all the records, that though He has often rebuked us and condemned us, He has never regarded us with contempt. He has paid us the intolerable compliment of loving us, in the deepest, most tragic, most…” quote by C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64b/c-s-lewis-2-132_compliment_if-god-is-love-he-is-by-definition-somet_1674569.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64b/c-s-lewis-2-132_compliment_if-god-is-love-he-is-by-definition-somet_1674569.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64b/c-s-lewis-2-132_compliment_if-god-is-love-he-is-by-definition-somet_1674569.png) > “If God is Love, He is, by definition, something more than mere kindness. And it appears, from all the records, that though He has often rebuked us and condemned us, He has never regarded us with contempt. He has paid us the intolerable compliment of loving us, in the deepest, most tragic, most inexorable sense.” [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. God’s love surpasses kindness; it is deep, relentless, and never contemptuous. **In simple terms:** Divine love is more than kindness. Key Takeaway Recognize the depth of unconditional love. Themes theology philosophy ethics Mood contemplative reverent Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - spiritual practice - grief coping - moral reflection Key Concepts unconditional love divine nature Questions to Reflect On - How does this view affect your relationships? - Can you extend such love to others? A Different Perspective Human interpretations of divine love vary. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compliment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compliment/) [Contempt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contempt/) [Definitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definitions/) [God is love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-is-love/) [God love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-love/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Inexorable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inexorable/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love Definition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-definition/) [Loving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loving/) [Loving Deepest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loving-deepest-894276/) [Mere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mere/) [Paid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paid/) [Records](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/records/) [Tragic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragic/) ## Related quotes > [God has paid us the intolerable compliment of loving us, in the deepest, most tragic, most inexorable sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/god-has-paid-us-the-intolerable-compliment-of-loving-us-in-the/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [If God is Love, He is, by definition, something more than mere kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/if-god-is-love-he-is-by-definition-something-more-than-mere-kindness/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“He has paid us the intolerable compliment of loving us, in the deepest, most tragic, most inexorable sense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/he-has-paid-us-the-intolerable-compliment-of-loving-us-in-the-deepest/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [God is love, and that love works through men-especially through the whole community of Christians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/god-is-love-and-that-love-works-through-men-especially-through-the/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [If we ignore it the truth that God is love may slyly come to mean for us the converse, that love is God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/if-we-ignore-it-the-truth-that-god-is-love-may-slyly-come-to-mean-for/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Wht is love? - Definition: A serious disorder of heart due to relationship between men & women that can cause death of 1 or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritesh/wht-is-love-definition-a-serious-disorder-of-heart-due-to/) [Ritesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritesh/) > [“He knew that I love you also means I love you more than anyone else loves you, or has loved you, or will love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/he-knew-that-i-love-you-also-means-i-love-you-more-than-anyone-else/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [“But he also knew that there is an inflationary aspect to love, and that should his mother, or Rose, or any of those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/but-he-also-knew-that-there-is-an-inflationary-aspect-to-love-and/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [“Love is by definition an unmerited gift; being loved without meriting it is the very proof of real love. 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But true love must be reciprocated, or it is only excrutiatingly unbearable and devistating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/true-love-by-definition-means-someone-that-is-truly-loved-but-true/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Love is large; love defies limits. People talk about the sanctity of love -- love is by definition sacred. Not some love between some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-beals/love-is-large-love-defies-limits-people-talk-about-the-sanctity-of/) [Jennifer Beals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-beals/) > [I LOVED YOU because I Love You. No other definition to that. I chose to be with you cause I wanted to. It's my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mike-ca-ada/i-loved-you-because-i-love-you-no-other-definition-to-that-i-chose-to/) [Dan Mike Cañada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mike-ca-ada/) > [“But I still feel like I lost. We all have the potential to fall in love a thousand times in our lifetime. It's easy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/but-i-still-feel-like-i-lost-we-all-have-the-potential-to-fall-in/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) ## More by C. S. Lewis > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Either Jesus is the Son of God ; or a madman or worse. But His being just a great teacher? He's not left that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/either-jesus-is-the-son-of-god-or-a-madman-or-worse-but-his-being/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [To every soul, God will look like its first love because He IS its first love. 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Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [The first fact in the history of Christendom is a number of people who say they have seen the Resurrection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-first-fact-in-the-history-of-christendom-is-a-number-of-people/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I#pray because the need flows out of me all the time-walking and sleeping. It does not change # God - it changes me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/i-pray-because-the-need-flows-out-of-me-all-the-time-walking-and/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Are the gods not just?' 'Oh no, child. What would become us us if they were?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/are-the-gods-not-just-oh-no-child-what-would-become-us-us-if-they-were/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Love is more than an emotion, it is a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/love-is-more-than-an-emotion-it-is-a-decision/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Ink is the great cure for all human ills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/ink-is-the-great-cure-for-all-human-ills/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [A man may have to die for our country: but no man must, in any exclusive sense, live for his country. He who surrenders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/a-man-may-have-to-die-for-our-country-but-no-man-must-in-any/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [War creates no absolutely new situation: it simply aggravates the permanent human situation so that we can no longer ignore it. Human life has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/war-creates-no-absolutely-new-situation-it-simply-aggravates-the/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) [Explore all 1,190 C. S. Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) ## More Compliment quotes > [Hot legs, bring your Mother, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-stewart/hot-legs-bring-your-mother-too/) [Rod Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-stewart/) > [I see the joy in life and I see the joy in simple things. I over-compliment. I over-praise. I over-express my feelings toward people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-lansing/i-see-the-joy-in-life-and-i-see-the-joy-in-simple-things-i-over/) [Sherry Lansing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-lansing/) > [The words I LOVE YOU, sometimes fooled us... But when someone says I TRUST YOU.. That's a better compliment, a true care with faith...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reolope/the-words-i-love-you-sometimes-fooled-us-but-when-someone-says-i/) [Janet Reolope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reolope/) > [Sometimes after a compliment about my characterization skills, I'm asked if I model my characters on real people. Emphatically, no. And sort of, yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/sometimes-after-a-compliment-about-my-characterization-skills-i-m/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [I've got the public. I don't care about the critics. I did at one time. I don't any more. 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