Love Quote by David Foster Wallace
““At first you maybe start to like some person on the basis of, you know, features of the person. The way they look, or the way they act, or if they're smart, or some combination or something. So in the beginning it's I guess what you call features of the person that make you feel certain ways about the person. ... But then if you get to where you, you know, love a person, everything sort of reverses. It's not that you love the person because of certain things about the person anymore; it's that you love the things about the person because you love the person. It kind of radiates out, instead of in. At least that's the way ... That's the way it seems to me.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: "Consider the Lobster", 2004
Love shifts from appreciating traits to valuing the person themselves, radiating outward.
In simple terms: Love moves from features to the person, then outward.
Key Takeaway
Focus on loving the person, not just their attributes.
Themes
love
identity
relationships
psychology
Mood
introspective
hopeful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- romantic partnership
- friendship
- family bonds
- mentor relationships
Key Concepts
attachment theory
selfless love
personal growth
Questions to Reflect On
- What does loving someone for who they are mean to you?
- How does this perspective change your relationships?
A Different Perspective
Love can be idealized; reality may differ.
