Beloved Quote by Emmanuel Levinas
“Love remains a relation with the Other that turns into need, transcendent exteriority of the other, of the beloved. But love goes beyond the beloved... The possibility of the Other appearing as an object of a need while retaining his alterity, or again,the possibility of enjoying the Other... this simultaneity of need and desire, or concupiscence and transcendence,... constitutes the originality of the erotic which, in this sense, is the equivocal par excellence.”
About This Quote
Source Philosophy: Totality and Infinity, 1961
Love uniquely balances need for the other with respect for their otherness, creating an erotic that is both desire and transcendence.
In simple terms: Love mixes need with respect for the other's uniqueness.
Key Takeaway
Honor both desire and the other's autonomy.
Themes
love
erotic
otherness
transcendence
desire
Mood
reflective
intimate
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- intimate relationships
- artistic expression
- spiritual practice
- counseling
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
phenomenology
ethical relation
subjectivity
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we love without possessing?
- What limits does desire place on transcendence?
A Different Perspective
May overlook power imbalances that distort genuine reciprocity.
![“Love loves and in loving always looks beyond what it has in hand and possesses. The driving impulse [*Triebimpuls*] which arouses may tire out; love itself does not tire. This *sursum corda* which is the essence of love may take on fundamentally different forms at different elevations in the…” quote by Max Scheler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cc4/max-scheler-21013_axiology_love-loves-and-in-loving-always-looks-be_248149.jpg)
![“I will say this quite plainly, what truly human is -and don't be afraid of this word- love. And I mean it even with everything that burdens love or, i could say it better, responsibility is actually love, as Pascal said: 'without concupiscence' [without lust]... love exists without worrying being…” quote by Emmanuel Levinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/83d/emmanuel-levinas-26126_being-loved_i-will-say-this-quite-plainly-what-truly_532817.jpg)
