1956 Quote by Erich Fromm
““Love is not primarily a relationship to a specific person; it is an attitude, an orientation of character which determines the relatedness of a person to the world as a whole, not toward one “object” of love. If a person loves only one other person and is indifferent to the rest of his fellow men, his love is not love but a symbiotic attachment, or an enlarged egotism. Yet, most people believe that love is constituted by the object, not by the faculty.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Art of Loving by Erich Fromm, 1956
Love is a universal attitude, not limited to a single object; true love expands one's concern to all humanity.
In simple terms: Love is an attitude toward the world.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate love as a broad, inclusive stance.
Themes
love
humanity
attitude
Mood
empathetic
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- relationships
- community service
- parenting
- social activism
Key Concepts
existentialism
humanism
Questions to Reflect On
- What would change if you loved the world instead of one person?
- How can you practice universal love daily?
A Different Perspective
Focusing love on one person can become possessive.
![“You pigs, you. You rut like pigs, is all. You got the most in you, and you use the least. You hear me, you? Got a million in you and spend pennies. Got a genius in you and think crazies. Got a heart in you and feel empties. All a you. Every you...' [...] Take a war to make you spend. Take a jam to…” quote by Alfred Bester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5ba/alfred-bester-12060_1956_you-pigs-you-you-rut-like-pigs-is-all-yo_1196508.jpg)
