---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Where there is self-contained…"
description: "\"“Where there is self-contained individuality, there can be no love, for love means the total gift of oneself to another. True being is love, and where ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c3/clark-carlton-93327_love_where-there-is-self-contained-individual_966489.jpg"
---

#  Where there is self-contained individuality, there can be…

![“Where there is self-contained individuality, there can be no love, for love means the total gift of oneself to another. True being is love, and where there is no love, there is only the absurdity of death and non-being. That is why Lossky said, “between the Trinity and hell there lies no other…” quote by Clark Carlton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c3/clark-carlton-93327_love_where-there-is-self-contained-individual_966489.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c3/clark-carlton-93327_love_where-there-is-self-contained-individual_966489.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c3/clark-carlton-93327_love_where-there-is-self-contained-individual_966489.jpg)

> ““Where there is self-contained individuality, there can be no love, for love means the total gift of oneself to another. True being is love, and where there is no love, there is only the absurdity of death and non-being. That is why Lossky said, “between the Trinity and hell there lies no other choice.” Those who, in their spiritual blindness, deny the doctrine of the Trinity, deny love itself, and thus deny the truth of their own being created in the image of this God of Triune Love.””

[Clark Carlton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-carlton/)

## 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 requires self-giving, and denying the Trinity denies love and the meaning of existence.

**In simple terms:** Love is total self-gift; denying it empties life.

Key Takeaway

Practice selfless love.

Themes

love spirituality trinity existence

Mood

thoughtful serious

Type

Love:1 Love means:0 Doctrine Trinity:1 Individuality Love:0 Deny Love:0 Trinity Hell:0

When to use this quote

- relationships
- faith discussionspersonal growth

Key Concepts

self-giving theology philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you see love as a spiritual practice?
- How does belief shape your understanding of love?

A Different Perspective

The quote assumes a specific theological view not shared by all.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Deny Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deny-love-706999/) [Doctrine Trinity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctrine-trinity-244243/) [Individuality Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individuality-love-463900/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-means/) [Trinity Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trinity-hell-1826486/)

## Related quotes

> [“Truth as a living power that takes possession of the internal being of a human and actually rescues him from false self-assertion is termed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-sergeyevich-solovyov/truth-as-a-living-power-that-takes-possession-of-the-internal-being/)

[Vladimir Sergeyevich Solovyov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-sergeyevich-solovyov/)

> [I'm in love with your smile. I'm in love with your voice. Whenever I see you, my heart will rejoice. I'm in love with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-in-love-with-your-smile-i-m-in-love-with-your-voice-whenever-i/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Mature love is union under the condition of preserving one’s integrity, one’s individuality. Love is an active power in man; a power which breaks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/mature-love-is-union-under-the-condition-of-preserving-one-s/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [“There is only one passion which satisfies man’s need to unite himself with the world, and to acquire at the same time a sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/there-is-only-one-passion-which-satisfies-man-s-need-to-unite-himself/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [I like people who have a sense of individuality. I love expression and anything awkward and imperfect, because that’s natural and that’s real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-jacobs/i-like-people-who-have-a-sense-of-individuality-i-love-expression-and/)

[Marc Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-jacobs/)

> [“The term persona comes to us from the Roman and Etruscan theater, where it denoted the mask worn by the actor and therefore the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/the-term-persona-comes-to-us-from-the-roman-and-etruscan-theater/)

[Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/)

> [“the doctrine of the Trinity is neither more nor less than the Christian understanding of who God is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-bullivant/the-doctrine-of-the-trinity-is-neither-more-nor-less-than-the/)

[Stephen Bullivant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-bullivant/)

> [“Christians do not believe that there is one God and three Gods. Nor do we believe that God is one person and three persons.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/christians-do-not-believe-that-there-is-one-god-and-three-gods-nor-do/)

[Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/)

> [“An error in the doctrine of God will have inevitable consequences in the sphere of action, of moral behaviour, of the polity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-farrell/an-error-in-the-doctrine-of-god-will-have-inevitable-consequences-in/)

[Joseph P. Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-farrell/)

> [“The Ontological Argument shows us that in order for God to be maximally great, He must be morally perfect. Being all loving is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/the-ontological-argument-shows-us-that-in-order-for-god-to-be/)

[Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/)

> [We find upon all occasions, the early Christian writers speak of the Father as superior to the Son, and in general they give him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-priestley/we-find-upon-all-occasions-the-early-christian-writers-speak-of-the/)

[Joseph Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-priestley/)

> [We have a hieroglyphical inscription in the British Museum as early as the reign of Sevechus of the eighth century before the Christian era,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-sharpe/we-have-a-hieroglyphical-inscription-in-the-british-museum-as-early/)

[Samuel Sharpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-sharpe/)

> [“Must the doctrine of the Trinity necessarily reverse apocalyptic Christianity, and not only apocalyptic Christianity but also Jesus himself, and above all reverse that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-j-j-altizer/must-the-doctrine-of-the-trinity-necessarily-reverse-apocalyptic/)

[Thomas J.J. Altizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-j-j-altizer/)

> [Nothing could be more idiotic and absurd than the doctrine of the trinity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/nothing-could-be-more-idiotic-and-absurd-than-the-doctrine-of-the/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [“The Trinity is not a doctrinal innovation but constitutes an explanation of the God whom Christians experienced in proclamation, worship, fellowship, communal meals, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-f-bird/the-trinity-is-not-a-doctrinal-innovation-but-constitutes-an/)

[Michael F. Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-f-bird/)

## More by Clark Carlton

> [“St. Nectarios died in an Athens hospital in 1920. The nun and nurse who were attending him removed his woolen undershirt and carelessly tossed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-carlton/st-nectarios-died-in-an-athens-hospital-in-1920-the-nun-and-nurse-who/)

[Clark Carlton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-carlton/)

[Explore all 2 Clark Carlton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-carlton/)

## More Love quotes

> [Whatever meaning 'Annie's Song' had for me on a personal level, there was also a larger context. It could just as easily have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denver/whatever-meaning-annie-s-song-had-for-me-on-a-personal-level-there/)

[John Denver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denver/)

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/)

[Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/)

> [I love going to Columbia, Missouri. That is a really underrated campus. It shocked me when I went there because I really didn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-herbstreit/i-love-going-to-columbia-missouri-that-is-a-really-underrated-campus/)

[Kirk Herbstreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-herbstreit/)

> [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/)

[Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/)

> [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/)

[H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/)

> [I fell in love with social work, and that was my undoing as a poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-rakosi/i-fell-in-love-with-social-work-and-that-was-my-undoing-as-a-poet/)

[Carl Rakosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-rakosi/)

> [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/)

[Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/)

> [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [“To be loved by a man, truly loved, made a woman feel as if she could burst. Of course, Lia was strong and could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-anne/to-be-loved-by-a-man-truly-loved-made-a-woman-feel-as-if-she-could/)

[Melody Anne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-anne/)

> [So when you take those tears, don't look to see I'm alright. …\*Seal - Violet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/so-when-you-take-those-tears-don-t-look-to-see-i-m-alright-seal-violet/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/)

[Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/)

> [“That horrible stinging sensation returned, the muscles behind my eyes straining as the first tear began to fall. “I’m scared, too. For eighteen months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-ashley/that-horrible-stinging-sensation-returned-the-muscles-behind-my-eyes/)

[Devon Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-ashley/)

> [I could program a 'fabulous, I love it' kind of hit season right now. I'm more interested in breaking boundaries, telling a story, defying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-wolfe/i-could-program-a-fabulous-i-love-it-kind-of-hit-season-right-now-i-m/)

[George C. Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-wolfe/)

[Browse all 233,035 Love quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Where there is self-contained individuality, there can be no love, for love means the total gift of oneself to another. True being is love, and where there is no love, there is only the absurdity of death and non-being. That is why Lossky said, “between the Trinity and hell there lies no other choice.” Those who, in their spiritual blindness, deny the doctrine of the Trinity, deny love itself, and thus deny the truth of their own being created in the image of this God of Triune Love.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Clark Carlton"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-carlton/where-there-is-self-contained-individuality-there-can-be-no-love-for/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Love"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-carlton/where-there-is-self-contained-individuality-there-can-be-no-love-for/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c3/clark-carlton-93327_love_where-there-is-self-contained-individual_966489.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c3/clark-carlton-93327_love_where-there-is-self-contained-individual_966489.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c3/clark-carlton-93327_love_where-there-is-self-contained-individual_966489.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Where there is self-contained individuality, there can be no love, for love means the total gift of oneself…” — Clark Carlton",
                "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": "Clark Carlton",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-carlton/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Where there is self-contained individuality, there...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-carlton/where-there-is-self-contained-individuality-there-can-be-no-love-for/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-carlton/where-there-is-self-contained-individuality-there-can-be-no-love-for/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
