Creator Quote by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
“Next to the love between man and his Creator, The love of one man and one woman, Is the loftiest and the most illusive ideal, That has been set before the world. A perfect marriage is like a pure heart: Those who have it are fit to see God.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Story of a Country Town, 1883
Ideal love and marriage are presented as spiritual pursuits that bring one closer to the divine.
In simple terms: Love and marriage can be a path to spiritual fulfillment.
Key Takeaway
Seek a partnership that nurtures both heart and soul.
Themes
love
spirituality
marriage
idealism
Mood
hopeful
inspirational
Type
philosophical
poetic
When to use this quote
- marriage counseling
- spiritual retreats
- personal growth
- community building
Key Concepts
theology
philosophy
relationships
Questions to Reflect On
- What does a “pure heart” mean in everyday partnership?
- How can couples balance spiritual ideals with real life?
A Different Perspective
Idealizing love may ignore practical challenges of relationships.
![“To exist as an advertisement of her husband's income, or her father's generosity, has become a second nature to many a woman who must have undergone, one would say, some long and subtle process of degradation before she sunk [sic] so low, or grovelled so serenely.” quote by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a22/elizabeth-stuart-phelps-ward-2_advertisements_to-exist-as-an-advertisement-of-her-husb_1017596.jpg)
![“John [Coltrane] was like a visitor to this planet. He came in peace and he left in peace; but during his time here, he kept trying to reach new levels of awareness, of peace, of spirituality. That's why I regard the music he played as spiritual music -- John's way of getting closer and closer to…” quote by Albert Ayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0ad/albert-ayler-43036_awareness_john-coltrane-was-like-a-visitor-to-this_12716.jpg)