Marriage Quote by Kurt Vonnegut
““Eliot did to the word love what the Russians did to the word democracy. If Eliot is going to love everybody, no matter what they are, no matter what they do, then those of us who love particular people for particular reasons had better find ourselves a new word." He looked at an oil painting of his deceased wife. "For instance- I loved her more than I love our garbage collector, which makes me guilty of the most unspeakable of modern crimes: Dis-crim-i-nay-tion.””
About This Quote
The quote satirically critiques how love is categorized, suggesting that love, like democracy, can be diluted by over‑broad application.
In simple terms: Love can become meaningless if applied too broadly.
Define love with personal boundaries.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- political discourse
- philosophical debate
- creative writing
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you differentiate love for individuals versus groups?
- Can love be both universal and specific?
Over‑categorizing love may limit compassion.