Consideration Quote by John Steinbeck
“There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is an outpouring of everything good in you — of kindness and consideration and respect — not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. The first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn’t know you had. John Steinbeck in Steinbeck: A Life in Letters”
About This Quote
Source Book: Steinbeck: A Life in Letters by John Steinbeck, 1995
Love can be selfish and damaging or selfless and empowering, shaping personal strength and wisdom.
In simple terms: Love is either selfish or selfless, affecting growth.
Key Takeaway
Choose selfless love to grow.
Themes
love
self‑growth
relationships
Mood
reflective
hopeful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- leadership
- mental health
- community building
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
psychology
ethics
humanism
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you nurture selfless love daily?
- What barriers prevent you from giving freely?
A Different Perspective
Selfless love may be hard to practice consistently.
![“Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three [great teachers] did not tell - they catalyzed a burning desire to know. Under their influence, the horizons sprung wide and fear went away and the unknown became knowable. But most important of…” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/84c/john-steinbeck-71_art_teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-t_1738.jpg)
