---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If that be simply perfectest Which can by…"
description: "\"“If that be simply perfectest Which can by no way be expresst But negatives, my love is so. To All, which all love, I say no. Negative Love”\" — John Donne"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed1/john-donne-933_love_if-that-be-simply-perfectest-which-can-b_1704945.png"
---

#  If that be simply perfectest Which can by no way be…

![“If that be simply perfectest Which can by no way be expresst But negatives, my love is so. To All, which all love, I say no. Negative Love” quote by John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed1/john-donne-933_love_if-that-be-simply-perfectest-which-can-b_1704945.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed1/john-donne-933_love_if-that-be-simply-perfectest-which-can-b_1704945.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed1/john-donne-933_love_if-that-be-simply-perfectest-which-can-b_1704945.png)

> ““If that be simply perfectest Which can by no way be expresst But negatives, my love is so. To All, which all love, I say no. Negative Love””

[John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker declares love is beyond positive description, only definable by what it is not, emphasizing its transcendent, paradoxical nature.

**In simple terms:** Love is defined by its negatives, not by positive traits.

Key Takeaway

Embrace love’s mystery beyond labels.

Themes

love paradox spirituality

Mood

reflective introspective

Type

poetic philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal relationships
- spiritual contemplation
- poetic analysis

Key Concepts

negative definition transcendence ineffability

Questions to Reflect On

- How can love be expressed without positive attributes?
- What does defining love by negatives reveal about its nature?

A Different Perspective

The paradox may obscure practical understanding of love.

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[Expresst Negatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expresst-negatives-1188245/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Negative love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negative-love/) [Negatives Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negatives-love-1188244/) [Say Negative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-negative-507716/)

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